Experience Wanderlust

By Nicole Cheslock

It began as a dream, a vision, a hope to be realized. The amalgamation of natural beauty, powerful music and union of the mind, body and spirit was dreamt in New York City and born in the Sierra Nevada last summer.
Olympic Valley, know as the legendary home of Squaw Valley USA, came alive with 3,000 people daily last summer during the inaugural Wanderlust Festival, a unique four-day yoga retreat and music festival.

Wanderlust 2010 takes place July 29 to Aug. 1, and locals and visitors alike have been anticipating the musicians, the yoga and the experience since last summer.

Wanderlust’s Web site, www.wanderlustfestival.com, has it all (schedules, prices, descriptions, bios, tickets and online reservations) yet the festival offers a very real, off-line experience.

Click here for a list of events.

The four summer days and nights of Wanderlust are packed with classes, performances, meals, a farmers’ market, new friends, connections, realizations, wine tastings and, of course, yoga, as the Village at Squaw Valley is transformed into Wanderlust’s active, alive and energizing Kula Village.

Yoga
One of the centerpieces of Wanderlust is the yoga, with classes held every day. Classes range from Anusara, Balancing, Bhakti, Chakra intensive, Kula, Meditation, off the mat, Prana, Vinyasa and more.
There are nine locations from the Village to High Camp and the incredible line up of instructors, comprised of nearly 40 practitioners, includes Schuyler Grant, a co-creator of Wanderlust and director of Kula Yoga Project in New York City. With scores of classes to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Check the Web site for class schedule and availability.

Wanderlust is dedicated to offering a range of styles and classes to engage the beginner and experienced. Many of the instructors have studied for decades. Some are storytellers, poets and writers, others are dancers, gymnasts and acrobatics. Some have built a reputation as fire keepers, global adventurers and others integrate tantric bhakti roots into their practice.

Don't be surprised as you wander through the Village between activities to come upon Village Hoopers, practicing the movement mediation of Hoop Dance, or to finding yourself learning to balance on a slack line with the YogaSlackers, an eclectic group of yogis that are known for yoga poses done in the air on a slack line. Explore all the freedoms of expression and connection that come with reclaiming the joy of the child within at the Play Lounge. Learn to fly (or be flown) with parishioners of AcroYoga, which blends yoga, Thai massage and acrobatics.

Music
Wanderlust continues to delight with a range of musical talent from the multi-faceted Moby to genres from electronica to hobo cabaret and much more.

Performers include Bassnectar, Brazilian Girls and Pretty Lights. Also performing are Yard Dogs Road Show, Beats Antique, Rupa & The April Fishes, Ana Sia, MC Yogi, Orgone, Princess Superstar, Dave Stringer, DJ Dragonfly, The Mayapuris, Shaman’s Dream, Rara Avis, John Shannon, Desert Dwellers and there are many more concerts throughout the Village and at High Camp.

Fire & Ice Dinners
The Fire & Ice Dinners at High Camp return for a second year, with three sittings at 5:30, 7 and 8:30 p.m. featuring local and organic fare. The dinner features hors d’oeuvres, summer soups, a seafood ice carving station, and themed entrée stations featuring Japanese, Italian and American fare, along with dessert. Dinner also includes wines from Red Rock and Ukiah Cellars. Dinner is $49.50 and reservations are required in advance.

Speakeasy Talks
One of the additions to this year’s festivities are the Speakeasy Talks, where participants can hear from a variety of professionals while sipping tea and Kombucha in a comfortable lounge atmosphere. Topics include yoga, organics, environmentalism, spirituality, fair trade fashion and conscious consumerism. Space is limited and expected to fill quickly, so register in advance to guarantee admission. Talks last approximately 15 minutes, followed by a short question and answer.

Farmers’ Market
The Kula Village will be home to an Organic Food Co-op area with a café and food samples. In addition, there will be a farmers’ market this year. The market features produce from Nevada County farmers and prepared snacks by local chefs and restaurants. The Village is open to the public.

Wine tastings
Wine tastings featuring Red Rock’s Merlot and Malbec are open to the public from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday nights at Uncorked in the Village.

Also, check out the biodynamic wine tasting, Winederlist, on July 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mountain Stream room, next to Uncorked. The tasting is limited to the first 100 Wanderlust attendees to register (free to Sage, Seeker and Saturday Pilgrim ticket holders). This tasting includes biodynamic and organic wines from Calera Wine, Ceago Vinegarden, Honig, Family Winery and Vineyards, Inman Family Wines, Yellow and Blue, Mendocino Farms, Red Rock, Saracina and Ukiah Cellars.

Wanderlust’s food coordinator, Margaretha Valois of Blue Onion, has designed organic hors d'oeuvres to pair with the wines for Saturday night.

Kids
There are on-site activities for children ages 4 to 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The kids program, Wanderkind, is described as the ultimate “chill-out zone for kids.” The program is held at Squaw Kids and includes yoga, music, henna tattoos, hula hooping and crafts. The program includes supervision and costs $69.50 per day.

Tickets
Wanderlust offers a range of tickets including the four-day Sage ticket for $450, the three-day Seeker ticket for $375, and the Pilgrim valid for one day ranging from $90 to $140, depending on the day. These tickets include access to all classes and teachers, all music, access to the Cable Car and High Camp and access to yoga classes (up to three classes for the Pilgrim).

As well, a music-only, one-day Day Tripper ticket is available for $29.50 from Friday to Sunday.

Children 10 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or guardian with a ticket.

For more information or for yoga class schedule, visit www.wanderlustfestival.com. Tickets to all events may be purchased online.