The words “yoga” and “triathlon” don't normally appear in the same sentence, but that notion will be challenged when Wanderlust 108, the world’s first and only “mindful triathlon,” comes to Reunion Park in Dallas on April 16.
Organizers of the “reimagined” triathlon created the event as a way to promote community, self-awareness, and inner peace, rather than competition, among the participants. The event consists of a 5-kilometer run or walk; a large-scale, outdoor yoga class; and a guided meditation led by some of the world’s top teachers.
If you’re wondering what the number 108 is all about, in many Eastern traditions, it signifies the interconnection between body, mind, and the universe. One represents unity, zero represents stillness or calmness, and eight — with its resemblance to the infinity symbol — represents infinite possibility.
The race is not meant to be a race at all. Instead it’s designed to get people active, whether they choose to run, walk, prance, skip, or jump their way to the finish line. The outdoor yoga class is also inclusive, as everyone from beginners to experts will be welcome for 75 minutes of posing, complete with music from a DJ. The triathlon is capped off by 30 minutes of meditation that will clear your mind and relax your body.
But the experience doesn’t end there, as there also will be musical performances from live bands and DJs, acroyoga, hooping, slacklining, and the Speakeasy lecture series — Wanderlust’s version of TED talks. Also expect a marketplace, at which you can buy apparel, jewelry, and handcrafted items, and the Kombucha Garden, cafe, and juice bar, which will help keep you fueled throughout the day.
After launching in just two cities in 2014, Wanderlust 108 visited 17 cities in 2015, including Houston in November, and will expand further in 2016, going to more than 30 cities worldwide. Other cities in 2016 include Santiago, Chile; Atlanta, Georgia; Mexico City, Mexico; San Francisco, California; Auckland, New Zealand; Chicago, Illinois; and Seattle, Washington.
Wanderlust also organizes other, longer festivals around the world, retreats that expand greatly on the concepts espoused at Wanderlust 108.
A 5K run (or walk or prance or skip) is at the center of Wanderlust 108.
