Summer is officially upon us, and here in Denver that means that the next few months are going to be chock full of yoga festivals- and I, for one, am extremely excited! Now while each yoga festival is just a bit different, there are a few yoga festival necessities that I am sure to pop into my duffel bag before leaving no matter which festival I’m attending.
I am a super lucky duck this year and was invited as press to head up to Aspen-Snowmass for the Wanderlust Festival (June 30th– July 3rd.) Wanderlust is an incredible yoga festival that hosts not only the classes you think of when you hear ‘yoga,’ but also hiking, biking, running, meditation, wonderful chats called ‘Speakeasy Talks,’ and much, much more. Essentially you need to be ready for everything- so having a bag full of adventure supplies is the way to go! (Want to know why- check out my post from two years ago now!)
Yoga
Yoga Mats
Now, while I bring my regular thick yoga mat- mine is by Kharma Khare– to the festival, I also bring along a travel mat. The KK mats are made from recycled tires and can be a bit heavy. So I bring along my Yoga Design Lab Travel Mat that can be folded up and stored away for popping into my bag when we’re headed up the mountain for hikes or spontaneous yoga play outside on the grounds!
BYOProps!
While festivals are full of amazing teachers and students with open hearts, yoga props aren’t as plentiful. If you’re a yogi who loves your props, make sure to bring your own! I usually practice with cork blocks, but because of weight I’ll bring a couple of foam ones and a strap in my bag!
Snacks
While there are plenty of restaurants and snack stations around, sometimes if you book two back-to-back classes it’s a great idea to keep a bar in your bag for a little pick me up between classes! I love the GoLean line by Kashi– they’re tasty and full of great ingredients- everything from chocolate to hemp!
Outside Adventures

Wanderlust | Jake Laub
A Re-Usable Water Bottle
This seems like a ‘duh’ moment, but a reusable water bottle (mine is a Camelback) is so easy to forget! Wanderlust has hydration stations all over the festival so they make it easy to stay all filled up!
Sunscreen
Now, in Colorado, sunscreen is especially important (take it from me, I currently have a not-so-fun sunburn from gardening this past weekend!) but when you are going to spend your day outside, wherever you are make sure to put some on! It is not so fun to have to make your way through a twisting class with red shoulders! I prefer Garden Goddess sunscreen, an organic, reef-safe formula that has a super lightweight feel.
Bug Repellent
Whether you prefer a spray on or a solid bug repellent (like the one pictured that I hand-make for my Spiral Collective line) when you’re outside in the evenings bug repellent is clutch! The Wanderlust line-up includes plenty of concerts and hikes, so don’t let bugs put a hitch in your step!
Day-to-Night

Wanderlust | Emily Bergquist
Cleansing Wipes
Running around from yoga class to lunch to hiking back to class and then outside for s’mores around a fireside, you’re not going to have much time to run back to your campsite or hotel room for a shower! Cleansing wipes, my favorite are the Simple brand, are a quick way to freshen up, wipe and wipe a bit of the sweat off without breaking up your day!
Dry Shampoo
Yes, I know, I’m fairly certain that every millennial or millennial-adjacent woman swears by dry shampoo but when it comes to festivals it really is a life hair saver! Pop some of it in before dinner and your hair goes from a sweaty mess to beach tousled. I actually use the Lavender Body Powder from Ora’s Amazing Herbals as a dry shampoo and love it!
A Cute Sweater
If your shoulders are a little pink and your body is nice and warm from hours of yoga, a fun sweater is a great thing to have to pop on to keep away the chill of the mountain air while out at night! I love the brand Soybu, a Colorado-based company, but any warm slouchy sweater will do!
So, when you’re packing for your yoga festival this year, don’t forget these essentials! Also, I’d love to know, are you coming to any of the Wanderlust Festivals this year? I’m, of course, headed to Aspen, but there are festivals all over the world including the Wanderlust 108 Mindful Triathlon events! Pop over to their lineup page for the full list of festivals and do let me know in the comments what you’d pack in your bag for your favorite yoga festival! And make sure to follow me on Instagram for lots of pictures from the actual event!
Psst.. want to see me chat about my essentials? Take a peek at my YouTube video below for more details- there might just be an appearance by some super fuzzy puppies!
I received a free press ticket to the Aspen-Snowmass Wanderlust Festival as compensation for my coverage. Some links are affiliate links.
Thank you for the article, very informative post. Definitely something to remember. Love it!!
Thank you for the article, very informative and useful post. Definitely something to remember.