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“She is free in her wildness, she is a wanderess.”

Well my friends, summertime is finally upon us. The days are long, the weather is warm, and the good times keep on coming. ‘Tis the season for (yoga) festivals, and I’ve been toting my mat along with me on all my travels. Let’s just say that after a brutal New England winter, I’ve put in a few extra rounds of Sun Salutations to honor the sun! Where will your practice take you this summer?

I’ve compiled a list of my favorite festival essentials for the wandering yogi, that will take you from the shores of your first SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboard) class to your deepest Savasana.

1) Harem Pants, Buddha Pants

Super cute, and equally comfy, Buddha Pants will quickly become your go to harem pant. The perfect choice for lounging in the grass, flowing through vinyasas, or as a yoga prop - I picked up my first pair at Wanderlust, and it’s been really hard to take them off. Made from organic cotton, they are available in a ton of prints, and naturally dyed. PLUS, they fold up into their own pocket for easy packing, and become a yoga pillow.

2) Comfortable Sandals, Birkenstocks

Festival life can be exhausting, so remember to take care of your feet while you’re out there having fun! I’ve been rocking the same pair of Birkenstocks since I was 15, and they haven’t given out on me yet. Supportive, comfortable, and dare I say, fashionable - I can walk for hours in these shoes with no complaints. Tend to your toes, and your practice will thank you.

3) Cotton Tank Top, Shake Your Asana Inner Fire Tank

Who doesn’t love a little yoga humor? Vancouver-based brand Inner Fire, has got you covered with their Laughing Yogi Collection. Made in the USA, and printed in Canada, these soft cotton tanks will keep you cool in the summer sun. Check out their awesome leggings (made from recycled plastic bottles) too!

4) Yoga Mat, Manduka Pro Lite

Home is where your mat is! Durable, and lightweight, the Manduka ProLite is perfect for my travelling practice. I bring my mat with me on every plane, train and automobile; at this point it has seen the world. I find is comforting to know, that though the location may change, my practice remains the same.

5) Maxi Dress, Resort Maxi by Pink Stitch

I love to throw on an easy sundress to cool down post practice. Whether you’re showing off your crazy hooping skills, or blissed out after a sweaty flow, you’ll look perfectly put together in this flowing maxi dress by Pink Stitch. Bonus, your friends will be able to spot you in a field of black leggings.

6) Bikini, Salinas

I know you’re dying to try a SUP yoga, so don’t forget your bikini! I picked up this great Brazilian swimsuit when I was in Sao Paulo, but the brand is available at Anthropologie too! Their suits come in a variety of styles and prints to mix and match, and there is a cut for every body type. The fit is seriously phenomenal. You can focus on rocking your wheel pose, or splashing in the waves, and rest assured your bikini will stay put.

7) Mala Beads, Rock Your Bliss Mala by Tiny Devotions

In the midst of festival madness, make some time for meditation. Get comfortable, relax, and connect with your breath. I bring (and wear) my mala beads with me everywhere as a reminder to live my intentions. I love the qualities of The Rock Your Bliss Mala by Tiny Devotions - howlite to release stress and let go, fuschia agate for protection and strength, and turquoise to promote balance. Find a mala that will help you manifest all that you need in this moment.

8) Sunscreen, Alba Botanica

We all love that warm summer sunshine, but those harmful UV rays will damage your skin. Be sure to slather yourself with sunscreen (and reapply generously every two hours) to avoid sunburn. I’ve got a few tattoos, so I take extra care and load on that SPF to prevent fading.

9) Water Bottle, bkr

When sipping from coconuts all day long is not an option, I go with my glass bkr bottle. Light, and bright - this little bottle will have you hydrating yo’self in style. Plus, bkr donates to the world water crisis with every purchase.

10) Cross Body Bag, Roots

Repping my Canadian roots (see what I did there) with a classic flat bag. The Village Bag Tribe from Roots is the essential cross body travel bag. With pockets galore, this purse is small, but mighty. It fits everything you need, without being bulky in a crowd.

Did I forget something? What are your yoga festival essentials? Let me know in the comments below. Happy wanderlust-ing, friends!

Until next time, peace + love.

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The glow of mid-afternoon settles in and casts a golden hue over everything in sight. Waves lap at the shore as I timidly dip my toes into the surf. The water is frigid and unforgiving, but determined, I root down and firmly plant my feet. My pilgrimage has ended. The west coast has been calling me for years, and I’ve finally made my way to her shores. Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply. The smell of salt + sunscreen tickles my nose, and I think about everything that it took to get here. Digging my feet further into the sand, the Pacific splashes around me. The sunshine feels warm against my skin. I have been a lot of places in this world, but I have never felt more at home. I am exactly where I need to be.

I have dreamt of California for the greater part of my life. So recently, when Pedro and I had the opportunity to indulge our unyielding sense of wanderlust, we took a trip to Venice Beach. Not only was it our (albeit delayed) honeymoon trip, but it was also my first visit to the Golden State. The trip was quite literally, a dream come true.

Los Angeles may be an atypical honeymoon destination, but Pedro and I are definitely not a conventional couple. Being the food+drink obsessives that we are, we tried to dream up locales where we could get our glutton on, and ditch the Northeast for a few days. We had been toying with the idea of a trip to LA for awhile and thought, as I often do, “If not now, when?”

We didn’t want to rent a car (we are weird, we know - nobody walks in LA), so we decided to pick one neighbourhood to really immerse ourselves in. Honestly, we couldn’t have made a better decision. With a city as sprawling as Los Angeles, you’re never going to see + do, everything in just a few days. My best advice to you - do some research and focus on a couple of neighbourhoods based on the things you love + what they have to offer. Being close to the beach + having access to great food was a must for us. Seriously, what better locale for a first-timer’s trip to SoCal, than the famous Venice Beach?

There were so many highlights from our short sojourn to the West Coast, that it’s hard to choose just one. From sipping Rum Bucks + Red Stripes at The Sunny Spot (minutes after checking into our hotel), to late night drinks at Gjelina + The Other Room. Dipping our toes into the Pacific for the first time, to sun-drenched afternoons spent on the sand. Watching day fade into night from the prettiest of patios, and basking in those last moments of that warm California glow. Having a hilarious older gentleman on the boardwalk read my cards (he told me I would write a book, among other things) to hanging out at the skatepark. Late night adventures to In-N-Out (worth it), to strolling along the canals... So much good food, so many fish tacos, and Happy Hours galore. More importantly, so many good times with the best company. Surf, and sand, and sun, and love and light - we had so much fun. Needless to say, our trip to Venice Beach made us that much more ecstatic for our 2016 move to Los Angeles!

It’s a strange and wonderful feeling when you finally end up where you were meant to be. It’s even better when you end up there with the one you love. It took a long time, but California - I am glad we finally got to meet.

ALEX’S TIPS FOR A RAD VENICE BEACH GETAWAY

Hit up The Sunny Spot Venice and get the Mofongo (and maybe a Rum Buck, too)! You won’t regret it.
The Boardwalk is fun, but venture onto Rose Avenue for some seriously good grub. Cerveteca, Flake and Moon Juice are musts!
No time for breakfast? The Buttery Brew from Another Kind of Sunrise on Abbot Kinney is out of this world. It will also keep you full until lunch time (I promise).
Traveling on a budget (aren’t we all)? Take advantage of Happy Hour! That way, you can hit a few spots without breaking the bank.
Check out the view of Venice from the High Rooftop Lounge at the Hotel Erwin. Show up early (or make a reservation), it can be hard to snag a spot.
Plan to watch the sunset from the beach. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget. SoCal will show off for ya, don’t you worry.
Is shopping your thing? Stroll down Abbot Kinney, and browse a bevy of beautiful shops + boutiques. My favourites were Tortise General Store + Junk Food Clothing + Ilan de Venice + Urbanic Paper Boutique.
Love craft brews? Chill to the sounds of Sublime on the patio at the Venice Ale House. Grab your favourite IPA or try a flight, and order a “Skate of Beer”.
Menotti’s Coffee! If you’re taking a peek at the famous Venice sign, there are delicious cold brews + americanos to be had by all at this neighbourhood gem.
Looking for a spot to practice yoga? Defy gravity with a partner and some acro-yoga on the beach. Want to get grounded instead? Try the Yoga Nest Venice, for some sweet Vinyasa Flows. It’s just a short walk from the shore - so you’ll be back in the sand for some post-practice frolicking in no time.

I'm back on the road again tomorrow, so you can expect lots of summertime travel fun in the coming weeks!

Until next time - peace + love,

Alex