Monday 16 March 2015

The Secret of Navigating SUPyoga at Wanderlust Oahu


You've heard it:  'All who wander are not lost!'. Case in point, I wandered & was far from lost-it was well planned.  Wanderlust Oahu has been on my bucket list for years.  The late February timing never fit into my busy schedule until this year. If Wanderlust Oahu is on your bucket list, here are a few tips.

1) BOOK EARLY

All Wanderlust Festivals have a 'Buy Before Date', after that date the prices go up. If you aren't sure who's yoga classes you want to register for, have no fear, tickets are sold as day passes.  You fit as much yoga in as possible! FYI: for a seasoned festival goer, 'less is more'.  Rookie mistake is overdoing it with too many classes the 1st day. You want to be able to move for the next 3 days!

Another FYI is some events, like SUPyoga requires an extra fee. ( transportation & equipment)  on top of the daily ticket price. For those classes do your homework because you need to book a specific teacher & time. I planned early mornings with Sarah Callaham the 1st day & Sarah Tiefenthaler the 2nd morning. I'm sad to say, I was unable to fit Lacey Calvert into my tight schedule. 
 

 
 
 

         
2) JETLAG HAS ITS ADVANTAGE

The early morning SUPyoga classes are ideal for several reasons!  The 1st is 7:30 am Hawaii time, is actually 1:30 pm in Toronto, Ont., or 10:30 am in L.A. You are wide awake!  The 2nd is Kawela Bay is calmer at that time.  FYI, classes that start on the water later tend to have a little bigger shore break and the sun is hotter. The SUPyoga boards are anchored just outside the shore break. You are at the mercy of the rhythm of the ocean! The more stable boards are the ones furthest from shore away from the shore break. For a flat water chick like me, being in the waves was magic!

 
3) TURTLE BAY ACCOMMODATIONS

This venue is out of this world AWESOME! It's a self contained paradise. Book early to take advantage of the Wanderlust Room rates before they are all sold out. There is not a bad room in the hotel. Camping is also available. Bringing your 'I'm-not-into-yoga-dude'? Have no fear, Turtle Bay is spectacular! Horseback riding, 2 golf courses, tennis, surfing, pools, water slide, helicopter tours....all this is worthy of a separate blog! You will not be disappointed!


4) GETTING THERE

By air: not much advice there, since everyone seems to have their own strategy for air travel. Six weeks in advance offers the best travel rates. You fly into Honolulu.  We rent a car for the 1 hour plus drive to the North Shore. Having your own car isn't a bad idea. Although Wanderlust & Turtle Bay will keep you occupied, you may want to bust out and see the infamous Pipeline or Sunset beaches or visit one of the many shrimp trucks along the road! (There's a shrimp farm in the area which means to-die-for yummy, fresh shrimp.) The valet parking is free & a saviour on Saturday & Sunday when things really get rolling and the parking gets full.


5) SOAK IT ALL UP

Literally! Weather on Oahu's Fabled North Shore is moody to say the least. Rain-rainbow-sun-repeat at any time! I highly recommend taking my Brother, surf yogi & Blissologist Eoin Finn's  'SUPERFLOW' class outside at Kuilima Point. It's a highly charged, surf inspired yoga class full of Bliss & energy. During his class this year it poured, but you are in Eoin's class, in Hawaii, LIFE IS SWEET! It's warm and it's just water!

There is a vibrant, outdoor nightlife that goes along with the Wanderlust tradition, rain or shine! Enjoy live outdoor bands & DJ's create nocturnal magic at Kuilima Point. When that's over at midnight, how about venturing inside to SURFER, THE BAR? Liquid Aloha!

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give my 1st Wanderlust in Oahu 1000! I hope next year to see a few SUP'n Girls there too!

Next years dates are: Feb 25-29'16

Some valuable links:
Wanderlust Oahu           www.wanderlust.com/festivals/Oahu/
Eoin Finn                       www.blissology.com
Sarah Tiefenthaler         www.yogaqua.com
Turtle Bay Resort           http://www.turtlebayresort.com/

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