Thursday, August 2, 2012

As the dust settles...

Maybe it's too late to comment on a timely event that is a week past; most blogs that I've seen on Wanderlust 2012 were hot off the (digital) press during or immediately after the last tent was folded, the last 'namaste' uttered. But I like to let things settle in, let the subtler aspects float to the surface. the Big, Obvious things have all been said: it's an awe-inspiring spectacle of yoga, music, neo-hippiedom, commercialism at it's best (and worst) -- all blended into one giant melange of chai-tainted yumminess. But wait, there's more...

This is my 3rd year (out of four Wanderlust events) I attended this world class event in one of the most pristine spots in the world, Squaw Valley California. Maybe I'm jaded; Squaw is nearly in my backyard, and just one of many insanely gorgeous destinations for skiing, rafting, hiking, biking, camping...and YOGA. No small irony that as the eternal Olympic flame burns at the foot of the valley, the XXX Olympics were initiated. It's kind of hard to be at Squaw and NOT be totally blown back by the sheer beauty of it in its own right; adding yoga and music to it is a proverbial wet dream for those of us who teach and practice in insulated (heated) rooms.

But this year was special, as I was invited to teach at the event. It goes without saying that I will be eternally grateful to those who chose to include me (as a local representative of the area) on a roster which included the likes of such well known and highly regarded teachers and scholars as Rod Stryker, Hareesh Wallace, MC Yogi, Jonny Kest, Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, Baron Baptiste, Les Levinthal, Sianna Sherman and Janet Stone, among others. In 'the real world' most of these names would invoke a raised eyebrow-- 'who the F is that?', but in our little insulated bubble of yogadom, these names are tauted as pillars of modern yoga. Suffice it to say that it was more than surreal, as I sat at the invite-only dinner sponsored by Lululemon (no free swag, dammit), chatting casually with Baron or Les. It's not a world where starstruck comments like 'I'm a big fan of your work' are appropriate. However, it is comforting to know that these demigods in the profession apparently eat the same as I do. And not out of ego or arrogance, it was really affirming to feel that I had somehow 'arrived' at the next tier, whatever that may be.

So, I guess that I'm commenting on the event from both points of view: as a lifelong student and practitioner, and as a teacher. Perhaps it is ungrateful to make even one negative comment on any of it, but what fun would that be? Certainly from start to finish, the event is a tightly organized, smoothly run operation, nearly seamless on the front end. The perfect blend of high end tent vendors, the all-vegetarian food vendors, the corporate sponsors offering free swag (gee, is that where my car payment dollars are going?) up the yin yang?, the altar-altered conference rooms and open-air tents -- all beautifully executed. The variety of teacher offerings is always challenging: 'do I take a hard vinyasa class with Schuyler Grant, or do I feel like a yoga nidra with Rod Stryker would be better?' Just having the luxury of choosing is a gift. Ten classes in 4 days seems gratuitous, but if you play it right, you'll end up with the perfect blend of hard work, laying back, partying at High Camp (!), dancing your a&s off to Ziggy, or meditating in the Gaiam Dome. I'm sure I'm not the only person attending who realized the not-so-small irony that this rather high end (and pricey) event is a luxury that 99% of the people in the world (and that includes all the Off the Mat and Into the World people) could never in a million years afford. Add to that the lodging, and the food. So again, I extend gratitude to those who made this possible for me (a poor yoga teacher).

My teaching experience was wonderful, playful, and memorable. Back at home, I teach in a heated room, so the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a sweet breeze under the mountain, were a breathtaking and refreshing change. We sung, sweated, laughed, fell down, and had reverence for where we were. I feel lucky to have taught the first day of the event (a slower day, as most people were still arriving and unpacking), then having the pleasure of attending for the next 3 days. I was humbled by the honor of being a presenter at this event; after all, yoga teachers are as ubiquitous as Starbuck's stores on every block; to stand out in any way is a challenge, and I think I rose to the occasion.

Then as a student, I was totally humbled in most instances, by being in the presence of such great minds and hearts. There really aren't enough adjectives for the likes of modern-day scholar and teacher Rod Stryker, or the inspired sequencing of east coast Kula Yoga teacher Schuyler Grant, who was accompanied by the magical DJ Drez, a constant presence on the yoga-circuit, with his moody chill DJ mixes. On the other end, I was rather disappointed in the one or two 'rockstar' classes I attended; they felt contrived and under inspired. Who knows, if I had to teach to that many people at that many events,  would my words seem somewhat empty after awhile? It's so hard to maintain the intimacy of a smaller class setting, in those ginormous tents. It's not for me to judge, but I do find it interesting that those who are (likely) the highest paid in the industry are not necessarily the 'best' (ok, not an objective word) in the biz, teaching-wise.

From a purely social point of view, Wanderlust allowed most of us who attended, to reconnect with other friends and colleagues from all over the country, collect some fresh fodder to take back home to our students. It is a cross between Disneyland for Yogis, and Yoga summer camp. And I wouldn't change a thing. For all its gratuitous commercialism, Wanderlust is a wonderful testimonial to how popular yoga has become (and a multi-billion dollar industry) in our culture. Who knows, maybe I'll be in the Big Tent next year!!