Wanderlust

Expert teacher Shiva Rea is a pioneer in the yoga community, so it's no surprise that she's a fixture at the four-day yoga and music Wanderlust Festival, happening at various locations across North America.

While the yoga life is a good one, Shiva recognizes that not everyone has the opportunity to practice yoga for hours every day. When we asked her for the number one pose for 9-to-5ers who sit at a desk, her response was the "all-around asana" Downward Facing Dog, since it's "an inversion, backbend, and forward bend" all rolled into one.

For people who can't drop to the floor and enjoy yoga freely at the office, Shiva offers a desk-approved version of Downward Dog. Keep reading to learn the variation that will help you release tension at work.

As we try and recover from the holiday season and keep warm as we head into chiller days, nothing sounds quite as amazing as a peaceful and warm tropical getaway. That's just one reason we've partnered with Wanderlust for the ultimate escape once the holidays are over to reenergize your mind, body, and spirit.
We're giving away two round-trip flights to O'ahu, four nights of blissful lodging at Turtle Bay, and two four-day tickets to Wanderlust, where you can experience the one-of-a-kind festival that brings together the leading yoga teachers, top musical acts, top chefs and winemakers, and so much more in the serene setting of O'ahu.

Click below to head over to the entry page and get ready to say Aloha!

Les Leventhal is a playful yogi who's been known to show up in class shirtless, tattoos showing, and always ready to rock. He's got an East Coast edge, but a Hanuman-like playful spirit. In short, he definitely set himself apart from the stereotypical image of a yogi at the Wanderlust Festival in Squaw Valley where I originally met him.

Les is a former addict (he's been in recovery since 2001), but while he was still using, a friend suggest he try yoga. He wasn't hooked initially, but as he got deeper and deeper into his practice, he found that early-morning classes couldn't happen if he was out partying until all hours of the night. For him, Wanderlust is a "big syringe of everything I ever wanted to experience when I was out there using." He's drawn to the beautiful vibe of the festival, the way everyone shows up for themselves and how it's constantly evolving — just like modern (and sometimes a very musical) yoga.

For those who prefer silence during their practice, it's probably best to stay away from Les's class, where you'll hear everything from Krishna Das and Jai Uttal to Joan Jett and Billy Idol — plus a little Rihanna for good measure! To those who don't agree, Les said "everything is yoga music. People should just find that place and space and let it motivate them."

As a teacher, Les doesn't believe in the word mistake, but he does see certain misalignments pop up in his classes. He constantly finds himself correcting people's feet: "When people are new, they don't have the connection that these turned feet can affect your hips, and that those hips can affect your shoulders, and that can sort of affect the muscles of the back." He's also a fan of props, which many yoga students are often self-conscious about using, but according to Les, props "teach students how to really engage muscles, especially in the legs."

For students who are fearful of pushing their bodies too much, he has a lighter perspective. While he doesn't offer a pose, or a sequence, or a retreat that can turn that around, he stresses that "it's OK to stay basic and new for a really long time. The first couple of years, just let yourself be new and fall."

Les will be teaching at the Wanderlust Yoga in the City event in San Francisco, but if you can't make it, then follow him on Twitter to stay up to date on all this yoga adventures.

If you've ever wondered how one of these big music festivals manages to come together, there's no one better to ask than Jeff Krasno and Sean Hoess, the men behind the Wanderlust Festival. Four years after the first event in Squaw Valley. Wanderlust has succeeded in reshaping the festival landscape as we know it.

Jeff and Sean first met at Columbia University in NYC as bandmates. Years later, after opening a music artist management company under the yoga studio where Schuyler Grant — Jeff's future wife! — was teaching, the three realized that yoga and music crowds had a lot in common. Thus came the idea for Wanderlust, a yoga and music retreat where the two concepts are melded together for, as Sean said, "the adventure-minded crowd who want stuff you can't get at your local yoga studio."

To learn more about how the festival got its name and how the men choose to stay active, just keep reading

I'm thrilled to be heading to the Wanderlust California festival in Squaw Valley! In addition to taking some amazing classes from celebrated yoga teachers like Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, and Jonny Kest, there's a ton of inspiring live music on the bill. The California edition of the fest boasts wild acts like Ziggy Marley, Shpongle, and Beats Antique, but all four Wanderlust events nationwide have offered some truly fantastic artists. Whether you're into reggae, folk, or even funky electronic, here's an eclectic Wanderlust playlist offering a little something for everyone.

Keep reading to listen to them all on our brand-new Spotify playlist.

In addition to the following DVDs, Project X is also available.

Wanderlust

Confronted with sudden unemployment, George (Paul Rudd) and his wife, Linda (Jennifer Aniston), must say goodbye to their NYC miniloft, swallow their pride, and head to George's brother's house to live temporarily. On the way there, they spend one magical night at Elysium, a commune in the wilderness, and following a confrontation with George's brother, they return to Elysium. There they discover the joys of living a life free of material possessions but also discover that the new way of life isn't exactly perfect for them. DVD extras include audio commentary by director David Wain, a gag reel, featurettes, and an episode of Wain's Web show.

59%

Big Miracle

Inspired by true events, Big Miracle chronicles the story of a reporter (John Krasinski) who discovers that three grey whales are trapped under ice in the Arctic Circle. He calls on his animal activist ex-girlfriend (Drew Barrymore) to draw attention to the situation and figure out a way to save the whales, and eventually the dilemma becomes an international sensation. Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, and Dermont Mulroney also star in the family-friendly animal tale. The DVD comes with commentary from director Ken Kwapis, deleted scenes, and two featurettes.

74%

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