Wanderlust Adventure

Lacey Calvert, CPY's Regional Programming Manager and Yoga Sculpt/Boot Camp Leader in Orange County, recently embarked on a trip of a lifetime to teach at Wanderlust Oahu. We handed Lacey the keys to our Instagram account for the weekend so that the CPY community could follow along on her adventure. Here's a journal entry of Lacey's first day teaching at the festival.

Waking up on the North Shore of Oahu, I was filled with anticipation and excitement. I arrived at Turtle Bay Resort the night before and fell asleep listening to the ocean waves and singing birds. This place is beautiful at all times of the day, and the energy that is set around the Wanderlust Festival on the island is electrifying! Wanderlust Festival is a 4-day music, art and yoga festival that takes place around the world in locations like Vermont, California, Colorado, New Zealand, Australia and more. I’m so thankful to have taught 6 SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) Yoga classes at Wanderlust Oahu and experience a few days on the island.

Packing for the day was the biggest part of my morning. You leave your hotel room early morning before the first class (7:00am), and probably won’t return until the final class ends around 5:00pm. You want to make sure that you’re packed well enough to have everything you need for a day in the sun, and sweating in yoga. Here is what my day pack typically included, as well as LOTS of taro chips, energy bars, bananas, water and a towel.

After packing up, I headed straight to the breakfast spot. You want to have a big, yet healthy, breakfast to start your day, and my go-to was an island favorite: an Açaí Bowl. These were packed with organic nutrients, fruits, vegetables and granola on top (gluten-free for me!). I did enjoyed the local Hawaiian coffee each morning to help with the two-hour time change!

I headed out from here to teach my first class. All throughout breakfast, I chose to be very quiet.  My nerves started to increase, so I took to the view of the ocean to calm my nerves. I teach yoga a few times a week on land, but it is a newer thing for me to teach a SUP Yoga class. Not to mention, six of them in one weekend! After five years of teaching yoga, I do still get nervous before teaching large classes. I think that this keeps me humble and refreshed, and reminds me that this truly is my passion.

I had to jump on a shuttle to get from the Turtle Bar resort over to the bay where the Boga Board inflatable SUP Yoga boards are set up. Wanderlust makes these classes extremely accessible, allowing you to walk out to your board in waist high water. No need to fight through the waves or paddle— you can just enjoy the yoga class on water. The classes lasted 90 minutes, and all my nerves faded away once I saw how many CorePower Yoga yogis were in my class! Throughout the weekend, each of my classes had at least one CPY yogi in attendance, and one class was full of about 7 CPYers! It was so encouraging, as we are just everywhere! Thank you for the support and making me feel at home!

While heading back to the resort, I checked my schedule and realize that my next class was with Seane Corn. I have been a Seane Corn fan for a while, as she has such heartfelt messages for her students. Her classes feel somewhat like a typical CorePower Yoga class, so I was comfortable with my practice and could let me mind be guided by her words. Again, she blew me away with her passion for service and love for yoga. Plus, practicing under the Hawaiian sunshine with the waves behind her was pretty breath taking!

After a sweaty sunshine yoga class, we headed to the pool for some water time. It was nice to hit the slide and catch some lunch… a Poke Bowl, of course! I ate Poke two times a day while I was on the island, and I’m still craving more!  There’s nothing like a Hawaiian Poke Bowl!!

After lunch, I took the bus back over to the bay for my next class. This next class was called the Waterman Experience, and it turned out to be my favorite class of the weekend. I highly suggest it to all those at Wanderlust Oahu, as it was a nice break from all the yoga (three yoga classes a day is a lot!). The Waterman Experience (T.W.E.) allowed participants to paddle in an authentic Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe out to snorkel around the bay (seeing both local fish and turtles). I got to experience this adventure of the island with my fiancé, who was on the island assisting with my classes at Wanderlust. Yet, I know several yogis who spent the weekend solo, and also had a fantastic experience. The people at the festival are so friendly, give the best hugs and are open to inviting solo travelers to classes with them! It’s a great place to make long-lasting friends, and explore a new place on your own time!

As the sun started to set on my first day, we sat by the surf break and enjoyed some more Poke together. We were salty, sandy, sweaty and so, so happy.The night ahead included music by Nahko and Medicine for the People, DJ Drez, and our favorite DJ HyFy. We sat and allowed the first chapter of the day to close, as the nighttime began. We gave thanks for the ability to move all day long, the change to be outside in the Hawaiian sunshine, and the love and passion we shared with new friends. Wanderlust is an experience that every yogi needs to find. It’s a weekend retreat with those who are like-minded, passionate explorers, crazy about yoga and not afraid to have a dance party at any time of the day! It’s something that cannot be put into words— only lived. So, plan a weekend trip at one of the Wanderlust Festival locations on your bucket list and smile knowing that it is waiting for you.