I spent this past weekend at Wanderlust Vermont—a veritable
smorgasborg of music, art, yoga and fun. The weather was beyond perfect, there
was just one afternoon of thunderstorming rain to remind us that we can get
wet, we can be flexible about where exactly we practice and we are really at
the whim of mother nature. When I arrived on Thursday, little did I know that
the long weekend would keep coming back to love. It was a simple and sweet through line—as if an inspirational
memo had been passed between the presenters.
For my first class I joined Jenny Sauer-Klein for a much
needed dose of self love & self care in her “Luminous Moon” woman’s only
class. I can’t tell you too much (gasp a man might be reading), but it was such
a delightful, non-linear exploration of movement. I walked away feeling more
relaxed and grounded than I have in a long time—really truly breathing
deeply.
I have never seen Ani DiFranco perform live before, although
many of her most angst ridden albums served as a soundtrack at the most trying
times of my younger years. I had no idea the inspiration and energy I was in
store for as she took the stage. I
was enraptured, and surprised I sang along and rocked oldies but goodies.
And boy has she
changed her tune- with a husband, baby and happy home songs from her newer
albums spoke of love love love, happiness and the road to get there.
I arrived at the most obscure, and possibly most beautiful
tent in that it was almost entirely encompassed in the woods with a flawless
breeze wafting through —“The Lair of the Conquering Lion”. The teacher, Kelly Morris instructed us
to smell the grass and try to embrace rather than squeam about the bugs. I moved my mat to the side and sat down
on the earth. Then she asked us to,
“Think of someone who is utterly bereft of the notion that we are totally
interconnected, interdependent and supported. Dedicate your practice to them, in that moment it shifts
from being about you to being a sacred worthwhile practice.” Feeling so embraced
by the earth beneath my sit bones I felt that expanding love with each
earth/sun balancing breath during her guided pranayama.
It has been a long wait for MC Yogis new album and it has
been absolutely worth it! The
album rocks with great beats, inspiring words, again transporting ancient
stories of Hanuman, Citta & Ram, Ganesha to the modern yogi. Every single song and the flow of the
album is what I always hope for from a favorite artist. What an absolute delight to get to see
him with his team of vj/dj’s turn it up live—particularly with AcroYoga
performances erupting from the audience during “Born to Fly”. The energy was
incredible and once again the message was One Love—woven through song, stories and hip hop beats. 
My final class was with Jenny Sauer-Klein & Adam Rinder,
“love + light + flight: AcroYoga Therapeutics”. They opened with a chant and
Adam telling the story of Citta and Ram the lovers. It was a simple, relaxing class— super mellow meditative
asana was followed by a relaxing Thai Massage and a short flight in Folded
Leaf. Jenny & Adam kept it clear and inspiring with a class of over 200
people. It was the perfect ending to the perfect Festival weekend. I am that. I
am love.
