Wanderlust Festival, Whistler, Canada
The one thing that creates disappointment is expectation. So if you were heading to Whistler expecting to see glorious snow-capped mountains and breathtaking scenery recently, you would have been an unhappy camper. Luckily for me, I was expecting to go to some yoga classes, expand my mind a bit, and try something new.
Whistler has been smothered in smoke from the BC wildfires. I say smothered because it really was that bad. I couldn’t see any of the mountains for most of the week I was there, and instead was wandering around Whistler Village having no idea what really surrounded it - the gates to Narnia could have been standing right there and I wouldn’t have known. The air quality ebbed and flowed during the week, but it was never good. Official warnings had been handed down, giving us the heads up that there was a ‘high risk’ and to avoid outdoor activity if possible.
So, not the best weekend for a festival, eh? I was headed up the mountain for Wanderlust Festival, a combination of yoga, music, hiking, biking, stand up paddle boarding, meditation, and a myriad of other wellness activities. I have to say right off the bat that the Wanderlust team did an amazing job at monitoring and responding to the challenges that the smoke caused. Despite the changes that needed to be made, everyone that I met was just so happy to be there. Outdoor classes needed to be cancelled, and they made space in the existing classes for the displaced outdoor folk, and it was a fantastic weekend.
So what the hell is a ‘yoga festival’? Spread across Whistler Village in conference rooms, halls and outside on the grass, participants sign up for the classes that attract them, and spend the day moving from venue to venue, yoga mats in their arms. There are markets filled with yoga wear and samples of vegetarian food and drink, and at night world class musicians take to the stage. This year’s Wanderlust at Whistler featured Charles Bradley and Con Brio, among others.
I’ve been to the Wanderlust Festival on the Sunshine Coast in Australia before, and was interested to see how different it was done in Whistler. The answer: not much. Wanderlust is a well-oiled yoga machine, and the primary difference was that in Canada it’s been running longer and there are a few more activities. Some of my favourites were the blacklight yoga classes, where we donned white and flare yoga year, painted ourselves with UV paint and did some yoga, usually accompanied by a DJ - the ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ session with DJ Sol Rising & Chelsea Korus was particularly fun!
Nicolette Spear and her body painting team were there making sure we all expressed the festival spirit on our skin, and I went to her Body Painting 101 workshop, which has seriously inspired me to grab some paints and get creative at the next festivals I head to. So if you see me at a festival back in Australia wielding my white paint, come say hi! I spent some time in the Speakeasy space, listening to Katherine Woodward Thomas tell us the secrets to ‘Calling In The One’ (definitely something I’m interested in!). I learnt to meditate with the hilarious and vibrant Davidji, I practised yoga to a Beastie Boys soundtrack with DJ Jesse Blake and Janet Stone, and learnt the art of ‘Vaginal Kung Fu’ with Kim Anami.
My musical highlight was Quixotic, a curious mix of harp, electronics and circus acts. To be honest, I didn’t see a lot of the live music, as I was pretty knackered by the end of the day with all the yoga combined with the smokiness of the air. And, full disclosure, I’m pretty out of practise when it comes to the yoga world, even though I love it so.
Wanderlust Whistler was a festival full on wonder, exploration, and testing my limits. I loved it beyond measure. I absolutely wish the smoke wasn’t so bad, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to even be there.
The good news? Wanderlust Sunshine Coast is happening again this year. The bad news? I won’t be back in the country in time to attend, as its happening in November. Could you go for me?
Time to get some sleep before the next festival adventure! Eight days of reggae, I’m coming for you!
