Music Archives - 窪蹋勛圖厙 Online /tag/music/ Live Bravely Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:27:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/favicon-194x194-1.png Music Archives - 窪蹋勛圖厙 Online /tag/music/ 32 32 Major Figures in the Outdoor Industry to Headline the 2025 窪蹋勛圖厙 Summit /culture/books-media/outside-summit-and-festival-2025-featured-speakers-announced/ Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:09:45 +0000 /?p=2695680 Major Figures in the Outdoor Industry to Headline the 2025 窪蹋勛圖厙 Summit

Massive celebration of outdoor culture returns to Denver with an all-star musical lineup, a bigger footprint, and an energetic mix of speakers, gear, films, food and fun

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Major Figures in the Outdoor Industry to Headline the 2025 窪蹋勛圖厙 Summit

Some of the biggest names in the outdoor industry will convene in Denver for the 2025 窪蹋勛圖厙 Summit, a multi-day networking and thought leadership event that begins in late May and rolls into the , a massive celebration of outdoor culture and community.

Featured speakers at the Summit include a diverse range of celebrated pioneers and rising stars. Among them are Co-Founder of and CEO of Reed Hastings, Global Brand President ofCaroline Brown, National Geographic and TV Host Albert Lin, Founder of Alyssa Ravasio, President and CEO of Carrie Besnette Hauser, President of the Kent Ebersole, Multidisciplinary Designer , Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, and Founder of Joey Montoya. The full lineup, which will continue to expand in the coming weeks, can be explored at .

窪蹋勛圖厙 Summit speaker
Lorelei Cloud speaks to 2024 Summit attendees during the policy panel (Photo: Darren Miller)

The Summit brings together key stakeholders, career veterans, and emerging talents to set a vision for the future of the industry. Programming begins on Thursday, May 29, with a job fair hosted in partnership with , along with networking opportunities, then continues on Friday with a full day of talks, panels, and workshops, followed by evening festivities.

Over the weekend, Summit badge holders will have ticket holder access to the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival presented by and , which takes place in Denvers Civic Center Park and features musical performances by and among other major national acts, an adventure film series co-curated by Mountainfilm, conversations with iconic athletes, and an eclectic mix of outdoor experiences. Summit badge holders will also be invited to join exclusive Saturday and Sunday activities and gatherings, and gain entry to an 窪蹋勛圖厙 Summit lounge on the Festival grounds.

Networking at 窪蹋勛圖厙 Summit
Attendees of last year’s Summit event enjoying the many networking opportunities (Photo: Darren Miller)

Last years 窪蹋勛圖厙 Summit saw 35 speakers, 27 panel discussions, and a sold-out gathering of more than 500 attendees. In 2025, the program will expand to a dedicated campus adjacent to Civic Center Park, with sessions taking place at the Denver Art Museum and newly renovated spaces within the Denver Public Library. The program will focus on entrepreneurship, storytelling, access, and sustainability, and will include a pitch competition for industry startups.

The Summit is an embodiment of our mission at 窪蹋勛圖厙 and serves the larger vision behind the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival, said Robin Thurston, founder & CEO of 窪蹋勛圖厙 Interactive Inc., who will also be speaking at the Summit. Last years inaugural Summit brought together changemakers from across the outdoor industry to spark important conversations about the future of our businesses. Our 2025 speaker lineup will continue building on last year’s success with an inspiring group of individuals who will empower more people to enjoy, discover, and protect the outdoors. I’m eager to hear their valuable insights.

The complete schedule will be released early in the spring. Industry professionals interested in attending are encouraged to secure their spot today. A limited number of for students, those who work in education and government, nonprofits, and smaller brands or startups. 窪蹋勛圖厙+ members receive a special discount on Summit badges, and group discounts are also available.

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The Great Playlist Debate: Music or No Music in Yoga Class? /health/wellness/music-in-yoga/ Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:04:13 +0000 /?p=2695646 The Great Playlist Debate: Music or No Music in Yoga Class?

Maybe there's no right or wrong answer

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The Great Playlist Debate: Music or No Music in Yoga Class?

Yoga classes these days are as diverse as the personalities drawn to them. And in recent years, one of the most polarizing topics among teachers and students everywhere is the use of music in yoga. Should classes boast banging soundtracks or should the room be as silent as a temple?

Spoiler: There is no universally right answer. Whether youre a teacher or a practitioner, you need to search for your why. Once you understand that, you can more easily unpack the pros and cons of music in yoga class by balancing collective experience with personal growth.

Should There be Music or No Music in Yoga Class?

Ultimately, whether you practice to silence or let beats set the tone, you want to approach your decision with purpose and recognize both the magic and the challenges that each approach brings.

Yes to Music in Yoga: It Sets the Tone and Energy

Theres no doubt that a well-curated playlist can transform the energy in a room. Music creates a vibe, infusing the space with emotion and guiding practitioners into a shared rhythm. Moving together in sync with music can feel like a collective heartbeat, a unifying pulse that connects everyone in the room and creates an atmosphere where bodies and minds align almost effortlessly.

In dynamic classes, such as vinyasa flow or power yoga, music can fuel the intensity. That uptempo track might encourage students to find strength in their poses or push through challenging sequences.

On the other end of the scale, in more gentle or peace-and-love style classes, music can also unify the participants under the umbrella of a particular emotional state.

Music doesnt just fill silenceit sets the mood.

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No to Music in Yoga: Distractions Disrupt Self-Inquiry

Similar to how music can manipulate the vibe, it can just as easily pull our focus elsewhere. Yoga is ultimately a practice of self-inquiry. It encourages practitioners to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment or commentary. Its a place where, to quote Mary Oliver, to pay attention, this is our endless and proper work. For some, music becomes yet another external stimulusa distraction that makes it more difficult to tune inward.

Think about meditation. Most practitioners wouldnt pop on the radio or TV while sitting in stillness, although it would undoubtedly make the practice easier and more pleasurable. Instead, we seek out a space with as few distractions for the mind and senses as possible.

Asana, or the physical practice of yoga, is an opportunity for mindful observation. Silence can amplify that experience. When you strip away external noise, students might find themselves more attuned to the breath, the physical sensations, and the subtle workings of the mind.

Yes to Music in Yoga: Anchors the Mind

On the flip side, music can serve as a powerful tool for grounding. As we all know, the mind loves to wander, especially in moments of stillness and quiet. For some, silence can feel deafening with its infinite space for spiraling thoughts and emotional discomfort.

In these instances, music can act as a life jacket by helping wandering minds remain relatively present without getting pulled away by the undercurrent. A steady beat, gentle melody, or familiar lyrics can become an anchora point of focus that helps practitioners stay engaged with their movement and resistant to ruminations. This is especially true for beginners to yoga. Familiar music can ease the transition into a practice that might otherwise feel intimidating or overwhelming.

No to Music in Yoga: Emotional Interference

The very same qualities that make music so powerful in everyday life can make it challenging in a yoga class. Music evokes memories, emotions, and associations that can send you tumbling into an entirely different time and headspace. Have you ever been flowing through a vinyasa class when the playlist includes a song that unexpectedly dragged you back in time to the first dance at your wedding, a brutal breakup, memories of your late parent, or a hilarious instagram reel?

Yoga asks us to be presentto let go of distractions and cultivate awareness. Silence, while stark, offers a clean slate for the mind. Without the influence of music chosen by a teacher,泭 students may find it easier to access a state of calm observation, free from emotional interference.

(Teachers, come clean: Have you ever tried to influence someones emotions with music? A little tear-inducing in Savasana, perhaps?)

Yes to Music in Yoga: Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere

For many, silence can feel intimidating and unfamiliar, especially in a group setting. A quiet studio might come across as uninviting, particularly for newer students. Music, even just a gentle piano soundscape, softens the edges and creates warmth and approachability.

Music also acts as a buffer against noises from the outside world; emergency vehicle sirens, local bars, the gym floor music or the very audibly enthusiastic front desk team. In doing so, music creates a cocoon of sound and an escape from life off the mata safe container where students can focus on their practice without interruption.

No to Music in Yoga: A Place of Fun or Learning?

Sure, adding music to class can make the whole experience more fun, but is fun what we are seeking? Life offers us countless opportunities for entertainment, but few places where we can experience a泭 deeply introspective journeya sacred space to sit with our thoughts, face discomfort, and invite growth.

The spiritual and philosophical roots of yoga emphasise stillness, awareness, and connection with the self. In asana, were using our physical bodies as a vehicle of self-inquiry to then ultimately transcend the physical.

By removing external distractions, we can fully embrace the discomfort and transformation that come with facing ourselves on the mat. Self-development and challenge go hand in hand.

The Answer? It Depends.

There is no universal right or wrong when it comes to the music question in yoga. The answer is unique and personal to each of us. And that comes back to your intention. You want to make certain youre asking yourself questions and not just doing what everyone around you is doing.

For teachers, this means considering the kind of experience you want to offer students. Are you cultivating a lighthearted, playful vibe where music can uplift and energize? Or are you prioritizing introspection and needing silence to encourage enhanced self-awareness?

Let yourself be liberated by the fact that you dont have to be everything to everyone, but also be aware that one decision may be more commercially successful than the other, meaning youre probably going to draw more students if you bring the tunes. But if you base your decisions solely on chasing money or fame, youll lose your integrity.

For practitioners, its about noticing what resonates with you. Do you feel more grounded with music as your anchor or does silence provide the clarity you need? Are you choosing one simply because its the route of least resistance? Even if so, that could be perfectly fine if simply showing up to your yoga mat requires lots of will power.

In case youre curious, I prefer to soften the edges of an intimidatingly quiet space to make it welcoming for as many people as possible. I rely on chilled-out, low-volume piano melodies with songs almost blending into the next when I teach public classes. But I dont want music to interfere with the practice. No one would recognize these tunes. When I lead a teacher training, I typically teach in silence.

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Khruangbin and Lord Huron to Headline the 2025 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival Presented by Capital One and REI /culture/books-media/outside-festival-2025-headliners-khruangbin-lord-huron/ Tue, 10 Dec 2024 17:00:32 +0000 /?p=2691080 Khruangbin and Lord Huron to Headline the 2025 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival Presented by Capital One and REI

Massive celebration of outdoor culture returns to Denver with an all-star musical lineup, a bigger footprint, and an energetic mix of speakers, gear, films, food and fun

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Khruangbin and Lord Huron to Headline the 2025 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival Presented by Capital One and REI

The 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival is back.

A year after the inaugural gathering brought some 18,000 people together for a rousing weekend of music and joy in the outdoors, the with presenting sponsors and will return to downtown Denvers Civic Center Park, May 31-June 1, 2025. The just-announced lineup of musical headliners includes , , , , , , , and .

The two-day event will also feature conversations with iconic athletes, renowned storytellers, and inspiring changemakers, plus an adventure films series and a diverse mix of outdoor experiences.

Record-breaking swimmer Diana Nyad speaking at the 2024 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival
Record-breaking swimmer Diana Nyad speaking at the 2024 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival

The 窪蹋勛圖厙 Summit, a precursor to the Festival and the outdoor industrys premier networking event, which was attended by over 500 influential leaders in its first year, will return on Thursday, May 29. The Summit includes a full day of programming on Friday, May 30, plus exclusive gatherings during the Festival weekend.

The 2024 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival and Summit was hailed as that created a new model for a national outdoor community gathering. Building off that momentum, organizers have expanded the Festival grounds to include Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park in order to accommodate an anticipated 25,000-plus attendees. Activities include climbing experiences, yoga classes, skills workshops, gear demos, a kids zone, exciting food options, and a variety of immersive brand engagements. Films and talks will take place at spaces inside the Denver Art Museum and the newly renovated Denver Public Library.

窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival presenting sponsor Capital One is running an exclusive Capital One cardholder presale, giving eligible cardholdersincluding 泭customers48-hour early access to tickets beginning Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. MT, and ending at 10 a.m. MT on Friday, Dec. 13, or until the last ticket is sold. Supplies are limited. Those trying to access the Capital One Cardholder Presale must use an eligible Capital One Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card to purchase presale tickets. Excludes Capital One issued private label cards. Tickets start at $99 for the full weekend.

Attendees enjoying a musical set at the at the 2024 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival
Attendees enjoying a musical set at the at the 2024 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival (Photo: JP Quindara)

Immediately following the Capital One cardholder presale, all tickets will be released to the general public at 10 a.m. MT on Friday, December 13. VIP packages will start at $150 for a single day and $275 for the full weekend, with access to a premium VIP viewing area, exclusive food vendors, private bar access, expedited entry, and more.

窪蹋勛圖厙+ members have access to early-bird pricing throughout the entire sales window on single-day general admission tickets and all VIP ticket types, plus members have the opportunity to purchase GA+ tier tickets at general admission pricing. Two-day GA+ tickets start at $175 and include perks like express entry, private bathrooms, additional food and beverage options, and access to the 窪蹋勛圖厙+ Lounge. Children ages 12 and under enter free.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the .

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The Math Behind the Impressive Athleticism Taylor Swift Needed to Complete Her Eras Tour /health/training-performance/math-behind-taylor-swift-eras-tour/ Sun, 08 Dec 2024 11:06:43 +0000 /?p=2690957 The Math Behind the Impressive Athleticism Taylor Swift Needed to Complete Her Eras Tour

22 months. 5 continents. 149 performances. And 6 ultras. This is the Eras Tour by the numbers.

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The Math Behind the Impressive Athleticism Taylor Swift Needed to Complete Her Eras Tour

December 8, 2024, marks the day that Taylor Swift ends her record-shattering Eras Tour. It lasted 22 months, spanned over five continents, and earned more money than any tour that had ever come before it, grossing more than $1 billion in its first year alone.

At 窪蹋勛圖厙, we wanted to pay homage to Swifts Eras achievements through the lens of distance traveled, which, we realized, must also be superlative. And to be clear, we arent referencing the controversies surrounding her . We wanted to know: How泭much ground did Swiftherselfcover over the course of her 149 performances?

To get an answer, we devised a nifty method to calculate how many steps she might have taken at each of her shows. We reviewed three different concerts from the tour, one from its , , and . Within each of the selected concerts, we watched ten randomly chosen one-minute intervals, and counted泭the number of steps taken each minute. This allowed us to calculate her average steps per show and to create a rough total of steps across all her performances.

An average Eras Tour concert runs for about 3.5 hours, which is 210 minutes. We based our numbers on that average show length.

Taylor Swifts Eras Tour by the Numbers

Heres where we landed on Swifts Eras Tour distance.

Miles Covered

Between dancing and walking across the stage, Swift took somewhere in the neighborhood of 657,090 steps throughout the duration泭of the Eras Tour. Thats the equivalent of 329 miles walked across the stage.

Races Completed

It also equates to roughly 12.5 regular-length marathons, 6.5 50-mile ultramarathons, and 3.3 100-mile .

Calories Burned

Using the average number of calories burned per mile walked (which is 100), Swift expended something like 32,900 caloriesjust in steps. That number is to say nothing of the other dancing, squatting, gyrating, and guitar-holding she did onstage, which burned additional calories, too.

Distance Traveled

Lets put her steps on a map. Looking at the globe, Swift walked a distance longer than the length of Scotland or the state of Massachusetts. She completed the extent of the John Muir Trail, plus an extra 100 miles.

And she did most of it in thigh-high-heeled boots.

Our guess is that Swift is probably more impressed with the fiscal records she shattered during Eras or the meaningful interactions she’s had with her legions of fans. But were not going to lie, 6.5 ultramarathons are pretty cool, too.

Ryleigh Nucilli is not a self-described Swiftie, but she’ll admit to listening to “The Man” on repeat. When she’s not calculating musical superstars’ step counts, she’s reading, writing, and consulting for digital brands.

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What Its Like to Stay in a Glass Dome Under Utah’s Darkest Skies /adventure-travel/destinations/north-america/clear-sky-resorts-bryce-canyon/ Fri, 01 Nov 2024 10:00:32 +0000 /?p=2687158 What Its Like to Stay in a Glass Dome Under Utah's Darkest Skies

I stayed in these glass-walled geodesic domes under dark skies, just a few miles from Bryce Canyon National Park and its world-renowned concentration of hoodoos

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What Its Like to Stay in a Glass Dome Under Utah's Darkest Skies

Ever come across an incredible hotel that stops you mid-scroll and makes you think, Wow, wouldnt it be something to stay there? We do, tooall the time. Welcome to Friday Fantasy, where we highlight amazing hotels, lodges, cabins, tents, campsites, and other places perched in perfect outdoor settings. Read on for the intel you need to book an upcoming adventure here. Or at least dream about it.

Waking up in the middle of the night can be maddening. Unless you’re able to gaze directly up at the firmament.

The skies are the star attraction at Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon, a new property set in a quiet gulch just 16 miles southeast of Bryce Canyon National Park. Far from light pollution and adjacent to this certified International Dark Sky Park, it offers superb stargazing by night and an otherworldly landscape by day.

Bryce Point, Bryce Canyon National Park
The famous Bryce Point overlook at Bryce Canyon National Park, about 20 minutes away from the resort. The park offers the world’s greatest collection of the slender rock spires known as hoodoos. (Photo: Courtesy Peter Densmore/NPS)

Most nights, that is. I could consider it unfortunate that rain fell during my visit, but precipitation is good for the high desert. And while I lacked lucid starry skies, I enjoyed a daytime rainbow and an evening lightning show, both plenty compensatory. Upon waking at first lightusually discomfiting to this night owlI watched raindrops run peaceful rivulets down the glass wall of my geodesic dome.

The resort is a collection of these futuristic structures, their surfaces half-glass and half-paneled. The window sides of each dome face up and also away from other units, though as darkness fell, I couldnt help wondering (hey, a little) about anyone looking in. But all I had to do was close the lower tier of curtains, leaving the top ones open for viewing.

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon
All about the windows. Looking out through the glass triangles from within a dome. (Photo: Alison Osius)

Hal Feinberg, resort founder and co-owner, said in the dining hall that evening that he came up with the sky-dome idea after seeing a teepee hotel in Livingston, Montana, that felt close to nature yet offered decks and nice indoor furniture.

In 2021, he opened Clear Sky Resorts Grand Canyon, 30 miles from the South Rim, with 45 sky domes that, like the ones in Utah, are connected by paths to shared activity spaces. With the Bryce iteration, Feinberg upgraded from using clear PVC canvas windows to ones made of glass. The result, he said, is like going from a Chevy to a Corvette.

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon opened August 9. It currently offers 25 domes, out of an intended final total of 62. Also underway is an employee-housing structure for up to 40 people.

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon, Utah
High-stakes cornhole out on the deck at a three-gen family reunion (Photo: Alison Osius)

This is luxury glamping with a jazzy, celestial theme. In the lobby, I passed a robot whose concierge duties include greeting guests by name and pulling up hiking maps. The nearby dining-hall dome, also known as the caf矇, featured a gleaming central boomerang-shaped bar. That evening as friends and I stared out of the caf矇s 28-foot-tall window, the amber lights lining the surrounding gravel paths and access road glowed like airport jetways.

A singer-guitarist played during dinner, and afterward, between showers, we hung out around the decorative fire pit on the deck. Daytime, people lounged there at the outdoor tables, and a grandfather smiled as his two grandsons went at it with cornhole.

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon
So we got rainy skies, but hard to complain when a rainbow lights up the sky. Dome Number Six, aka Milky Way. (Photo: Alison Osius)

窪蹋勛圖厙 Intel

You can sign up for stargazing tours and outdoor yoga, or walk a pleasant mile or two around the property on the gravel paths and roadway. A nearby option is to drive ten miles to the northernmost hike in the national park, the moderate (0.8 mile one-way, with just 150 feet of elevation gain). This waterfall hike, a rarity for the area, winds along the park boundary.

Queen's Garden Trail, Bryce National Park
Bryce Canyon from the bottom: on the Queen’s Garden Trail, underneath the Queen Victoria hoodoo. (Her silhouette is the second hoodoo in from the right). (Photo: Neil Tandy)

But most visitors are here to explore the heart of . Friends and I intended to hike with April LeFevre, a fourth-generation area resident who drove shuttle groups in Bryce for 18 years before opening her own outfit, . Rain, however, nixed the mornings hike, and instead we motored along on the main park road, UT-63, which stretches 18 miles north to south. Before doubling back to finish at the famed Bryce Amphitheater overlook near the entrance, we marveled at seeing the arch at Natural Bridge, 12 miles in, and two miles later the Hunter spire at Agua Canyon, come in and out of the mist.

Natural Bridge, Bryce
Natural Bridge emerges for a moment from the mist. Rock windows, like the area hoodoos, are formed of erosion and the ice-expansion that occurs in freeze-thaw cycles. Bryce, located in the desert but at altitude, receives both above- and below-freezing temperatures over 170 nights a year. (Photo: Alison Osius)

Along the way, LeFevre recounted many local tales, including that of LeRoy Parker, later known as the outlaw Butch Cassidy, who grew up 50 miles away in Circleville. His life changed when he was 13, LeFevre said, after he visited a mercantile to pick up a pair of overalls hed had repaired, and, finding the place closed, slipped through a window to take them and a pie. He left a note regarding payment, but the owner pressed charges. Though acquitted, the youth henceforth resented authority. LeFevre also said that while Cassidy is thought to have died with his partner, the Sundance Kid, in Bolivia, an area rancher (now long gone) told her that Cassidy had returned to Circleville. The rancher claimed to have given the former robber a ride in his wagon. Some say Cassidy is buried in a secret location in Circleville.

Anyone visiting the park will want to see the spindly hoodoos, striated in red, gold, and white. Bryce Canyon has the greatest concentration of hoodoos in the world: 12 amphitheaters of them. According to an ancient Piaute , the hoodoos were once people whod committed evil acts. A coyote spirit invited them all to a party, to trap them, and turned them to stone.

Queen's Garden Trail, Bryce Canyon, Utah
Visitors hike along Queen’s Garden Trail, the least arduous of the trails dropping from the rim into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater. However, all the hikes are at altitude, increasing the difficulty for most people. (Photo: Alison Osius)

In geological terms, the hoodoos and holes in the walls are remnants from 50 million years ago when the area was a lake surrounded by rock walls. The spires formed from erosion, weather, and ice expansion during freeze-thaw cycles.

Later, when the clouds cleared, our crew hiked the , a 1.8-mile round-trip, to reach a formation that supposedly looks like Queen Victoria. I didnt think too much of the resemblance, but marveled at the views of endless golden towers and labyrinths. This hike is commonly for a stellar three-miler. Id have loved to do the 4.2-mile hike to see the top-heavy hoodoos of the .


Bryce is known as an otherworldly place to see the sunrise (head to Sunrise Point) as it lights up the hoodoos. Rangers offer in the park as well, and doing that would be amazing.

Full moon hike past hoodoos in Bryce Canyon
Rangers in Bryce Canyon National Park offer full-moon hikes (by reservation). (Photo: Courtesy Gaelyn Olmsted/NPS)

The landscape is also a bird-watchers dream, drawing hawks, eagles, peregrine falcons, and swifts. I delighted in seeing both ponderosa pine, which smells of vanilla, and, at the highest point of the canyon, ancient twisted bristlecone pines. The mellow one-mile cuts through a forest, with side views of hoodoos. (This trail is considered largely wheelchair accessible, with assistance.)

Much of the hiking at Bryce begins at about 8,000 feet, and the Bristlecone Loop reaches 9,100 feet, so in coming from lower elevation, be prepared to deal with altitude. Always bring water and pay attention to intake.

towers at Bryce Canyon National Park
Looking down from the 5.5-mile Rim Trail into an expanse that includes the freestanding tower of Thor’s Hammer, seen dead center (Photo: Alison Osius)

Choice Rooms

The Standard Sky Domes sleep two. I stayed in a Deluxe, called Milky Way, with more controls for lights and temperature and vents than I possibly knew what to do with. The place had a patio (some have decks) and kitchenette, a king bed and two twin beds in a loft, and a rad shower with six adjustable side jets. The Milky Way ($730) was dubbed an XL in that it slept four, and I thought about how much fun (aside from the snoring) it would be to have my husband and two sons here.

swinging chair in a dome at Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon
Yes, this chair was comfortable, as well as cool-looking. I swing-tested it too. (Photo: Alison Osius)

The designs varied. One friend stayed in a two-occupant Deluxe called the Big Dipper ($630) with no loft but a cool swinging chair. Another was in Nova ($680), also double occupancy, that had, I kid you not, a dance floor, disco ball, and flashing lights. Theres a two-suite dome that sleeps eight ($1,125) if you want to go big.

Eat and Drink

The resorts Sky Nova Caf矇 Bar and Grill, open to the public, affords wall-to-ceiling views of the canyon and sky and has a lot of fun themed touches, like little inverted domes within the water glasses and crazily multicolored silverware.

Entr矇es are generously sized and range from $20 and to $35, though the 20-ounce Atlas Ribeye is $49and that thing is a brick. I ordered the heavenly pan-seared Titans Trout with lemon-dill sauce.

i.d.k. barbecue in Tropic
Maybe you didn’t know how much you liked barbecue or even how hungry you were until going into the casual i.d.k. Barbecue in Tropic, Utah. (Photo: Alison Osius)

I didnt know I liked barbecue that much until I had lunch at i.d.k. Barbecue, six miles from the resort in the town of Tropic. While I had the sweet chicken and baked beans, also on offer were pulled pork, beef brisket, slaw, potato salad, and cornbread.

Ebenezers Barn and Grill, 15 miles away in Bryce Canyon City, is a popular gourmet cowboy music hall, with a fixed-price meal served to hundreds in turn. The night we visited, Due West, a country band founded in Nashville, Tennessee, played original tunes.

Ebenezer's Bar and Grill
Ebenezer’s Bar and Grill packs them in, in this case for original music and tales told by Due West out of Nashville. (Photo: Alison Osius)

When to Go

Clear Sky is open year-round, as is Bryce Canyon. Most visitors to the park come from June through September to take advantage of the warmer weather and clearest skies. The months of October through May are cooler but the upsides are fewer crowds, autumn foliage, and spring wildflowers. Some say the park is at its most beautiful with white snow atop the red rock.

How to Get There

The small Bryce Canyon Airport is just four miles north of the park. Most visitors fly into Salt Lake City and rent a car for the spectacular 294-mile drive south.

Dont Miss

Bryce Canyon Lodge, Bryce Canyon National Park
Meeting hall with impressive stone fireplace in the historic Bryce Canyon Lodge, set in the forest just 700 feet from the canyon rim (Photo: Alison Osius)

Stick your head into the lobby of the Bryce Canyon Lodge, built in 1924 in the Rustic style of national-park architecture and one of some half dozen lodges designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it meshes development, landscape architecture, and the environment. The lodge is located in the forest only 700 feet from the canyon rim, and a beautiful half-mile walk from Sunrise Point.

Details

Price: From $525
Address: 855 UT-12, Cannonville, UT 84718

888 704 4445

To Book

 

Alison Osius is a senior editor at 窪蹋勛圖厙 and part of the travel team. She lives in Western Colorado. Previously, she had only flown over Bryce Canyon, though in a small plane with a sunset view. This was a prized chance to explore the park from the ground.

author photo Alison Osius
The author was weathered out some of the time in Bryce Canyon National Park. Still, it’s magical to see towers and other formations come in and out of the mist. (Photo: Neil Tandy)

Looking for more great travel intel?

For more by this author, see a personal tale of years of hiking the Storm King Memorial Trail, just off Interstate 70, in Western Colorado, site of a famous firefighting tragedy.

See also this tribute to the most beautiful mountain town in Colorado.

And a lifetime’s accumulated camping tips.

 

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The Best New Sport Earbuds (2024) /outdoor-gear/tools/best-sport-earbuds/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:47:01 +0000 /?p=2686726 The Best New Sport Earbuds (2024)

We tested 25 earbuds on trails, treadmills, and trains to find the best for every listener and budget

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The Best New Sport Earbuds (2024)

The winners of this years sport earbuds test came from brands that range from three-year-old startups to longtime audio stalwarts, a testament to how dialed the technology has become. Each year we see more and more bargain models (under $70) on the market that, if you didnt check the price tag, you might think went for $100, or twice that. And every year brings more new and clever features, like in-ear detection and sound profiles to suit your taste for bass vs. treble. Then theres active noise cancellation (ANC), which first came to earbuds some five years ago but has become commonplace, perhaps an indicator that the world around us really needs to shut the hell up, and that we allwhether running, doing yoga, or commutingcan best find our sweet spot when alone in our particular sound cave.

One thing 窪蹋勛圖厙 readers can appreciate is the increasing ruggedness and water resistance in almost any pair of buds you might acquireeven those that dont have high are likely able to survive a walk in the rain or a drop into a puddle and still keep doing what they do. With less and less to separate high-end products from low-end, the differentiators are becoming more a question of how much care and attention to detail are put into the product.

Updated October 2024: Weve added three new picks from Denon, Suunto, and Treblab, and updated the retailers and pricing of all the earbuds.

At a Glance

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.


2024 Marshall Motif II ANC
(Photo: Courtesy Marshall)

Best All-Around

Marshall Motif II ANC

Pros and Cons
Top-notch, dynamic sound
Rockin design
Highly grippable stems
Shorter-than-average battery life

The Motif II ANCs have the same popular stem design as Apples beloved AirPods Pro but cling to your ears even better. Like the AirPods Pro, they sound fantastic, with faithful, crystal-clear highs, mids, and lows (and no artificial, random bass boosting), and come with a versatile app that includes a custom equalizer (where, yes, you can add more bass). But unlike the AirPods Pro, the Motif II ANC earbuds carry Marshalls pedigree classic rock aesthetic, which is actually very useful: the grippy metal stems make them much easier to handle, and the textured vinyl case feels indestructible. They even come in at $50 less than Apples counterpart.

In testing, connectivity proved flawless, and their active noise cancellation (ANC) was very effective, though a step below Apples model. One tester did find that their robust design meant they needed occasional fit adjustment during runs, and their IPX5 protection means theyre not rated to keep out dust and solids, but they will do fine with heavy rain, sweat, or sea spray. Battery life is the only real downside: They play for just 6 hours with ANC engaged or 9 hours without (similar to the AirPods Pro but 23 hours less than competitors like Sony, Sennheiser, and JLabs) and the case holds four extra charges. But with the best sound quality of all the buds in this test, according to one tester, and a design that made everyone take notice, the Motif II ANCs take home our top prize for their character and quality.

Read our full review of the Marshall Motif II ANC.


Denon PerL True Wireless Earbuds
(Photo: Courtesy Denon)

Best High-Fidelity

Denon PerL True Wireless Earbuds

Pros and Cons
Rich, dynamic sound
Impressive app
Customizable sound profile
Chunky size

Each product is hand-tuned by our sound master, Denon says of the PerLs, and while we dont know exactly what that means, it speaks to the Japanese DNA in these premium-sounding buds. Take the accompanying software, for instance: The first thing you do with these wireless buds is download an app that streams a series of sounds and frequencies into your ears to measure how you hear, then creates a personalized profile that transforms how good music sounds. Its one of the best uses of a headphone app weve seen.

The PerLs came across as lively but not piercing on the high end, with realism and verve. Theres even a high-gain option on the app that boosts volume for quiet recordings, which one tester called a welcome feature that I would love to see in a lot of sometimes anemic Bluetooth earbuds. These capabilities are made possible by a series of ultra-sensitive microphones, which probably explains their rather enormous sizeone reviewer called them sharp-edged Alka-Seltzer tablet earbud bodies and noted, I had to remove the supplied fin attachment before these felt okay.

Others liked the fit and found them great for running, where they kept the adrenaline flowing with some of the best full-on rocking-out sound in the test. St. Vincent and Spoon sounded like I was listening to vinyl, one tester said. The active noise cancellation is decent, the six hours of battery is average (with two more charges from the case), and an IPX4 rating means they can handle a light rain. Given the quality and attention to detail, we consider these a true bargain at $139 or less.


Suunto Sonic earbuds
(Photo: Courtesy Suunto)

Best Open-Ear

Suunto Sonic

Pros and Cons
Safe in traffic
Secure fit
Limited, soundwise
No portable power bank

This year Suunto entered the open-ear category that was pioneered by Shokz and has continually improved with brands like H2O Audio. The design uses bone conduction technology to feed music directly to your inner ear, leaving your ear canal wide open to take in the sounds around you. It seems pretty advanced, but for music lovers the tech has severe limitations. And Suunto hasnt exactly overcome them: The Sonic doesnt have the power to produce vibrant bassor even to play loud. If it did, it would vibrate to the point of tickling you to death.

As a runner, however, Ive thoroughly enjoyed this unit for listening to podcasts, which they do admirably while allowing me to hear when someone is passing me on the trail (an increasingly frequent occurrence). For those who want to optimize safety, like runners who need to contend with traffic, and for sports that require hearing other people (skiers, climbers, skaters, cyclists …) theyre a very smart option.

The 10-hour battery life (with no charging case for backup) lets you get your miles in, and a five-minute recharge provides three additional hours. The behind-the-neck band is comfortable and keeps them firmly in place. IP55 sweat and water resistance allows you to wear them through a downpour, and if youre like me youll also love using them indoors: Theyre perfect for watching Netflix on my laptop while working in the kitchen, without taking away my wifes ability to walk in and bug me.


Treblab X3 Pro True Wireless Earbuds
(Photo: Courtesy Treblab)

Best for Long Hours

Treblab X3 Pro True Wireless Earbuds

Pros and Cons
Crazy-long battery life
Secure fit
Good sound for the price
Oversize carrying case

If you are especially averse to earbuds that lose power quickly or slowly start to slide their way out of your ears as you move about, these are the solution for you. With a whopping 145 hours of available playtime (nine hours per charge plus 15 more in the charging case), the X3 Pros are designed for those folks who would rather plug in once a week and not have to think about the battery. The trade-off is a bulky case that doesnt slide readily into your shorts pocket but does have a handy battery-life readout built into the side.

The IPX5 sweat- and water-resistant buds also come with ear hooks, a basic approach to a secure fit that has stuck around because it works. The sound quality is good if not at the level of the premium models here, and the build seems flimsy but held up throughout testing. Another nice touch is ENC (environmental noise cancellation), which enhances the sound quality, not for you but for the person on the other end of a call. They dont, however, come with ANC. While the X3 Pros are no-frills, one reviewer found these workhorses my hands-down favorite for trail running.


2024 Beats Studio Buds +
(Photo: Courtesy Beats)

Best for Runners

Beats Studio Buds +

Pros and Cons
Easy to use
Secure fit
Consistently good sound
Limited grip area makes them easy to drop

The well-engineered Studio Buds + are our top pick for runners because of their light weight and small profile, staying in place well while you bob about. One tester, who even used them while paddleboarding, found that they fit really well immediately out of the box and never fell out or needed adjusting. They didnt, however, boast the lockdown security of the wingtips that came built-in on the earlier (and still available) . The Studio Buds + are an improvement over their predecessors (same name sans the +), with upgrades that include better ANC and longer battery life (6 hours with ANC on, 9 hours without). With an IPX4 protection rating, they held up against sweat and light rain. This model put extra oomph in our strides with bassier but nice n clear sound, similar to that of the Apple AirPods Pro. ANC on the Studio Buds + is only middle of the pack but did a decent job blocking out the chatter in a crowded coffeehouse, and Beats tripled the size of the microphones for a call quality that impressed testers.

We also liked the push controls on the outside of each bud, which never accidentally paused tracks the way touch controls sometimes do. Similarly, they dont have in-ear detection, a feature some of our testers find aggravating. Forgot to charge them? A five-minute plug-in adds a quick hour of playback time. While their diminutive size can make them hard to grasp when plucking them out of the magnetic case, we nevertheless found ourselves reaching for them routinely, especially when heading to the trail. And as youd expect from the brand, the Studio Buds + look sleek and wholly of the momentwe especially approved of the transparent option, but the ivory and black/gold opaque models are also appropriately sporty.


2024 Raycon Fitness Earbuds
(Photo: Courtesy Raycon)

Best for Smaller Ears

Raycon Fitness Earbuds

Pros and Cons
Extreme portability
Surprisingly bold sound
A bit on the fragile side
More likely to be lost

The magic in the straightforwardly named Fitness Earbuds lies in their barely-there size. Both the lightweight buds and the casewhich fits in the palm of your hand and slips discreetly into any pocketare tiny. This makes it all the more impressive that they can pump out rich, deep sound for 12 hours on a charge (with ANC off) and hold 44 more hours of recharging in the case. One of our testers, a runner with several ear piercings, said these felt the most comfortable and secure in my ears, a fact that is helped by the soft stabilizing fins that cleverly slip on and off depending on your preference. Folks with larger ears enjoyed them too but did have occasional trouble with them falling out.

The Fitness Earbuds come with helpful touch controls for volume, ANC, and even three different sound profiles (more bass, etc.), and their multipoint feature lets you connect to both phone and laptop at the same time. IPX7 water-resistance means they can handle rain and even short periods of total immersion. One tester who works as a carpenter wore them at work and never had any issues with them being affected by sweat or sawdust.


2024 JLab GO Air Sport
(Photo: Courtesy JLab)

Killer Value

JLab GO Air Sport

Pros and Cons
Exceptional value
Secure fit
Infrequent pairing issues
Some tunes can sound tinny

For those who put their buds through hell, theres nothing to dislike in this smooth-sounding unit, given that they come with a replacement cost that is less than a pizza with all the toppings. Their comfortable, bendy ear hooks all but guarantee a secure fit during workouts, even if your workouts involve handstands. With an IP55 rating, they can handle dust and moderate rain. These were my go-to earbuds for durability, said our Anchorage-based tester. I tested them on trail runs and hikes during misty Alaska rains. They are very durable and did not fall out of my ears or seem to be affected by rain or sweat.

While one runner on the test crew found the relatively large case a bit cumbersome to carry in a pocket, the 8-hour charge was adequate for most workouts and daylong activities (and the case provides another 24 hours). As for that case: We like that it has its own built-in USB charging cord. The touch controls are nice to have but dont always perform as expected, and the earbuds do not come with ANC, though at this price that shouldnt be an expectation. Based on their durability, clear sound, reliable connectivity, and price, they make perfect sense for more rough-and-tumble activities or as a backup to pricier headsets.


How to Choose Earbuds

Earbuds are more like shoes than most other gear categories: so much depends on the right fit. What comfortably fits one persons ears may not suit anothers, and theres more to it than size. The internal anatomy of the ear makes certain designs actually sound better to one person than the next. If you cant try them out at a store or borrow them from a friend, it may be best to buy them from a retailer with a good return policy. Once you have them in hand, do some real-world tests with the different tip sizes, and trade them in if you arent in love.

If you want to get serious about the perfect fit, consider aftermarket foam eartips, like . In addition to helping with a more secure fit, they provide passive noise isolation, which can improve the experience with both ANC-equipped and ANC-less earbuds. Should fit issues persist, consider a model with behind-the-ear hooks, like the JLab GO Air Sport reviewed here.

Also give some thought to which features do it for you: Some people like sleek touch controls, others prefer old-school push buttons; some like to tap for quick pausing, others would rather forgo that feature and pull out one bud to ask for directions, so as to avoid the annoyance of unwanted pauses every time your fingers go near them. And if you live in a rainy climate, be sure to choose ones with an IP rating ending in 4 or higher (as all the models here do).

Finally, be aware that there are more specialized designs emerging and getting better each yearlike these earbuds for , others for , and for those who want to stay more tuned in to their surroundings.


How We Test

  • Number of Miles Run During Testing: 415
  • Number of Miles Cycled: 154
  • Number of Dogs Walked: 8
  • Hours of Podcasts Consumed During Travel: 45
  • Coldest Temp: 3, Anchorage, Alaska
  • Warmest Temp: 102, Tucson, Arizona
  • Highest Elevation: 12,341 feet, Deception Peak, New Mexico
  • Most Remote Testing Location: Antarctica
  • Most Listened-To Tracks: Aphex Twin: #3, Billie Eilish: Bad Guy, Biosphere: Baby Satellite, Christian McBride and Edgar Meyer: Barnyard Disturbance, Fontaines D.C.: Favourite, J Dilla: Last Donut of the Night, Kendrick Lamar: Not Like Us, Orbital and Sleaford Mods: Dirty Rat, The Replacements: Kiss Me On the Bus, Tyler, The Creator: New Magic Wand

The first thing we do with any earbuds, headphones, or speakers is attempt to pair them with our phones without consulting the user manual: the quicker, more intuitive, and easier the Bluetooth setup, the more points scored. Then we put them through rigorous hours of testing doing the kinds of things 窪蹋勛圖厙 readers dofrom dog walks to HIIT workouts, from fireside listening to our day jobs, which for one of us is at the local woodworking shop. Our testers, who range in location from Alaska to Berkeley to Santa Fe to New York City, spent hours in them, bouncing up and down on trails, treadmills, and trains.

Our team turns in reports on each product tested, providing a score from 1 to 10 for five different measures: sound quality, pairing and connectivity, fit and comfort, rain and drop protection, and user friendliness. Scores are averaged, with more weight given to sound quality and (knowing our audience) how well they stand up to the elements. Note: Battery life estimates in these reviews are based on manufacturer specs; its difficult to confirm those numbers, given the time involved and variances among user habits (different volumes, different uses, different functions enabled). Actual results may be 10 to 20 percent lower, judging from averages experienced in general testing.


Meet Our Lead Tester

Will Palmer has been testing gear for 20 years for 窪蹋勛圖厙, where he was managing editor and copy chief for nine years. Based in Santa Fe, he has been a runner since 1984, and while the mile counts have decreased over the years, hes kept motivated to head out the door on the hottest, coldest, and wettest days by the opportunity to test the best new productsand to commune with the junipers and pi簽ons.

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A Pro Kayaker Walks into Some Hip-Hop Bars /podcast/pro-kayaker-rush-sturges-rap-album/ Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:00:34 +0000 /?post_type=podcast&p=2671088 A Pro Kayaker Walks into Some Hip-Hop Bars

What does a professional kayaker do when he realizes hes in the twilight of his career? He releases a rap album, of course.

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A Pro Kayaker Walks into Some Hip-Hop Bars

What does a professional kayaker do when he realizes hes in the twilight of his career? He releases a rap album, of course. Producer Paddy OConnel sits down with pro kayaker and musician Rush Sturges to find out how the many paths in his life have led to the most eclectic rap album youve ever heard.

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The Inaugural 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival in Denver Rocked. Heres What You Missed. /culture/books-media/the-inaugural-outside-festival-in-denver-rocked-heres-what-you-missed/ Tue, 04 Jun 2024 01:52:45 +0000 /?p=2669914 The Inaugural 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival in Denver Rocked. Heres What You Missed.

Thundercat jammed, Diana Nyad hugged, Jimmy Chin autographed, and thousands of fans soaked up the stoke in Denver this past weekend

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The Inaugural 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival in Denver Rocked. Heres What You Missed.

Diana Nyad was parched.

Could you blame her? She of marathon swimming and now red carpet fame had just delivered a rousing speech to a packed house at the Denver Art Museum this past Sunday, June 1, during the two-day 窪蹋勛圖厙泭Festival. After the speech, Nyad stood under the midday Colorado sun in front of a long queue of autograph seekers, all clutching copies of her 2016 memoir Find a Way. Nyad spoke to each person, delivering wisdom about overcoming goggle tans or facing down fear, hugged them, and then signed the publication. But even marathon swimmers sometimes get thirsty.

Diana Nyad addresses a crowd of fans at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival.
Diana Nyad greets fans at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival. (Photo: 窪蹋勛圖厙/Brandon Ellis)

And only one refreshment泭would do. “I need a snow cone!” Nyad barked.

The handful of us manning the autograph tenteditors, film producers, and advertising repslooked at each other in confusion. Luckily for Nyad, snow cones were not far away. Chris Keyes, the general manager for 窪蹋勛圖厙, and SKI editor-in-chief Sierra Shafer were making the icy treats at nearby booth. Moments later, a pi簽a colada-flavored ball of shavedice arrived for our guest of honor, who bit into it mid-soliloquy without missing a beat.

Nyad greets guests at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival (Photo: 窪蹋勛圖厙/Dustin Doksocil)

This scene played out on Sunday, the second day of the festival. I was there alongside dozens of my 窪蹋勛圖厙 coworkers. We abandoned our day jobs of editing feature stories and selling advertisements to cosplay as event promoters. Look, I’m absolutely biased here, but the shindig we helped throw ruled. The inaugural 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival had killer tunes, engaging outdoor films, celebrity book signings, dog stunts, bike stunts, food, and too many other events to list. Based on my extremely rough estimate, a billion zillion people showed up to dance and attend panel discussions and pet doggies, and everyone one of them was stoked.泭(No, this is not the official attendance count.)

My gighalf crowd management, half info kioskwas a job that any journalist would have been proud to do. I managed the author autograph booth alongside Scott Burgess, the director of operations for 窪蹋勛圖厙 TV, Kate Muller, 窪蹋勛圖厙’s sales director, and an ex-NFL cheerleader in a In between my dutieswrangling Nyad and author Kevin Fedarko, and pointing lots of sweaty people to the closest hydration stationI perused the festival grounds to check out the sights and sounds and mingle with guests.

I met a ton of friendly attendees, all of whom love the outdoors. They told me all sorts of anecdotes about their time at the festival. Here’s what I saw and heard:

Groovin and Movin

Crowds funneled into the festival grounds Saturday evening just as the sun began to set. Lights illuminated Denver’s City and County building behind the main stage as some warmup music prompted everyone to get on their feet for the next act,泭Thundercat

In the crowd, Micah Gurard-Levin, 39, also rose. Gurard-Levin is a former pianist who now works the director of community impact for broadband communications company Liberty Global. He didn’t know Thundercat’s music but his friends did, and after a few opening bars of the first song, he got into the groove.

The main stage at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival. (Photo: 窪蹋勛圖厙/Mike Arzt)

“It was this real avant-garde fusion of jazz and funka style I hadn’t heard in a while,” Gurard-Levin told me. “It was like music from an old-school eighties video game. Like, you’re about to fight the final boss and the music gets faster.”

Everyone was dancing as the skies darkened. Gurard-Levin looked at the crowd and noticed that the makeup had changed. Earlier in the day, he said, the attendees looked like hardcore outdoor enthusiasts. As the festival progressed, he said, the makeup evolvedyounger and more diverse crowd added to the climbers, runners, and cyclists.

Fans cheer at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival (Photo: 窪蹋勛圖厙/Mike Arzt)

“That was the big macro picture for methere was this intersection between different communities in the park,” he said. “And everyone was having fun.”

A Meeting to Remember

Talia Hoke, 45, sat in the crowd at the Sturm Pavilion and listened to three speakers share their stories during the “Journeys of Purpose” panel on Saturday afternoon. One of them, wildlife biologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, caught Hoke’s attention. Dr. Wynn-Grant said the outdoor world felt alien to her growing up, because it appeared to be the playground for white men. Early in her career, she felt like an outsider in wildlife biology because of her background and the color of her skin.泭Hoke, a marriage and family therapist, had traveled to Denver from Philadelphia for the event. She sat in the crowd and nodded along.

“Just because you come from Black America doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have access to these places,” Hoke said. “It was empowering to hear that she had the tenacity to make it the center of her life.”

After the panel ended, Hoke beelined for the autograph tent. She purchased three copies of Dr. Wynn-Grant’s memoir, Wild Life,泭and then stood in line to meet her. When Dr. Wynn-Grant finally arrived, Hoke made the most of the experience: photos, conversation, hugs, and even tears. One book is for her mother, Hoke said, and the other is for her soon-to-be mother-in law.

Fans meet with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival.
Fans meet with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival. (Photo: 窪蹋勛圖厙)

Meeting Dr. Wynn-Grant was a highlight of the weekend, but so was walking around Civic Center Park and checking out the city. Hoke said that downtown Philadelphia lacks the access to outdoors that we take for granted in Colorado. And on her flight back home, she started checking out home prices in Denver. “You never know what the future holds,” she told me.

“I’m not a mountaineer or a backpacker,” she continued. “I walked away realizing the positive potential for how the outdoors can impact the people in my life.”

Winning a Golden Ticket

Jonah Grove is a huge fan of Diana Nyad.

When her employer, Price Waterhouse Cooper, told its employees that it had a limited number of tickets to the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival to give away, and that hopeful attendees should write an essay about why they wanted to go, Grove focused hers on Nyad. “She’s a great entertainer,” Grove told me. “Every time I hear her talk I’m reminded that she did her swim at age 64. That’s inspiring.”

Quannah Chasinghorse (left) Jeremy Jones, and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant lead a panel. (Photo: Dustin Doskocil)

Grove won the tickets, and placed Nyad’s talk atop her to-do list. But what else was there to do? Grove checked out the schedule and picked out a handful of other events to hit: a screening of the film Wade into Water,泭listening to author (and former 窪蹋勛圖厙 staffer) Katie Arnold discuss her new book, Running Home. Grove could check out the food trucks, climbing competitions, and of course the music.

I met Grove on Saturday when she buzzed by my booth and filled out an online form to win a pair of Columbia running shoes. A few hours later we did a random drawing and she was a big winner. “I’ve never won anything!” she said when she claimed her footwear. Then, on Sunday, she returned to the booth to meet Nyad and get a photo snapped with her hero. Guess who took the pic? Yours trulyyet another skill I got to apply to my festival job.

I asked Grove what she spoke to Nyad about. “I got up there and didn’t know what to sayI think I asked her about how her day was going,” Grove told me. “I was too excited.”

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Choose Your Own Outdoor Festival /adventure-travel/advice/best-outdoor-festivals/ Mon, 20 May 2024 12:00:06 +0000 /?p=2668332 Choose Your Own Outdoor Festival

Introducing a years worth of the most entertaining outdoor gatheringsmusic, sports, food, and filmall in dream locations

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Choose Your Own Outdoor Festival

窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival

Denver, Colorado

June 12, 2024

The vision for the new , which takes over downtown Denvers Civic Center Park for a weekend at the beginning of June, is to create a first-of-its-kind gathering for people who love the outdoors. (The event is put on by 窪蹋勛圖厙 Inc., this magazines parent company, in partnership with the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and Visit Denver.) The fest brings together live music, adventure films, speakers, a pro climbing competition, skills clinics, and the latest gear.

Thundercat, one of the headliners at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival; Quannah ChasingHorse will speak at the festival.
Thundercat, one of the headliners at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Festival; Quannah ChasingHorse will speak at the festival. (Photo: Ariel Goldberg; Claudio Lavenia/Getty)

Musical headliners Thundercat and Fleet Foxes are joined by lineup of athletes and changemakers like Oscar-winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin, distance-swimming legend Diana Nyad, model and climate-justice advocate Quannah ChasingHorse, and snowboarding icon and Protect Our Winters founder Jeremy Jones. Festival experiences include climbing walls, yoga and tai chi classes, cold plunges, cycling challenges, endurance and strength clinics, and a kids zone featuring hands-on nature and science exhibitions.

Denvers Civic Center in concert mode
Denvers Civic Center in concert mode (Photo: Visit Denver)

The Denver Art Museum, adjacent to Civic Center Park, is hosting the festivals Film x Ideas series. Its new exhibit, Biophilia: Nature Reimagined, puts 80-plus works by photographers, architects, and designers on display. The aptly named Art Hotel (from $263), two blocks from the main festival entrance, has its own impressive collection. Need to get in some training? Ride or run the 32-mile South Platte River Trail through the city. Festival tickets from $39; free for kids 12 and under

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What Jazz Legend Miles Davis Taught Me About Teaching Yoga /health/training-performance/vinyasa-yoga-sequence/ Fri, 12 Apr 2024 21:58:47 +0000 /?p=2664538 What Jazz Legend Miles Davis Taught Me About Teaching Yoga

It's the thing I see countless teachers get wrong when creating a sequence

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What Jazz Legend Miles Davis Taught Me About Teaching Yoga

You have to learn the rules before you can break them. Miles Davis

I first heard those words from one of the most innovative and influential jazz musicians of all time during the . In the interview, chef Daniel Humm explained how understanding that quote shaped his approach to creating Eleven Madison Park, his world-renowned, plant-based restaurant in New York City.

That type of thinking may seem counterintuitive to creativity. But numerous other groundbreaking creatives also cite a respect for basic techniques as the reason they were later able to challenge the rules in a creative and intelligent manner. For example, in the documentary, Trent Reznor of the band Nine Inch Nails lauded his childhood study of classical music as the foundation from which he was able to create his unique style and sound.

So what does this have to do with yoga?

You can also apply the concept of needing to understand basic techniques prior to finding innovation when you teach yogaespecially as a new yoga teacher creating a vinyasa yoga sequence.

How Understanding the Classics Supports Creativity in Yoga

After training vinyasa yoga teachers for 15 years, I can confidently say that one of the most common mistakes that rookie teachers make is forcing creativity into yoga sequences before they fully understand the fundamentals of vinyasa.

The term vinyasa is believed to have originated with Sri Krishnamacharya, who used it to refer to his style of teaching. The word is based on the Sanskrit term vi, which means in a special way, and n聆硃莽硃, which means to place. His son, T.K.V. Desikachar, further explained the term in his book :

It means step-by-step, a progression that has a beginning, middle, and end宇he asana is performed with concentration on the flow of the movement and smoothness of inhalation, exhalation, and retention, and toward a prescribed completion. Each step is a preparation for the next. And so it is with a sequence of asanas [physical poses]. Each posture is part of a flow of exercise; a beginning, a building toward a posture that is the height of the program, and then the progression toward an ending.

As the , vinyasa became a more frequently used term to describe the diverse intersection of yoga systems in the West. The style of practice followed a basic premise of vinyasa in that its sole focus was simply linking movement with breath in a fast-paced rhythmic flow. Today, that remains the most recognizable thread among the varying approaches found across vinyasa yoga classes.

Its a style of yoga that emphasizes creativity in terms of linking one pose to the next. This contributed to the cross-pollination of different systems and lineages of yoga, which captured the interest of a vast number of people. Along the way, though, we lost some fundamental principles outlined in the original version of vinyasa.

How to Stay Consistent and Consistent In Your Yoga Teaching

There is a reason why the practice of yoga has lasted more than 5,000 years. The essential teachings still workand they work exceptionally well. As yoga teachers, our role is to understand how to apply the principles of yoga to our contemporary lifestyle without losing the integrity of the practice.

Thats not to say you cant incorporate creativity into your vinyasa yoga sequences. But as a teacher, your objective is to focus on your students and their needs, including helping them transition with ease and knowing how to cue accessible variations for each pose you teach. Forcing creativity for the sake of being different is your ego speaking and tends to look and feel like a yoga class gone bad.

Any time you struggle to be more creative in your sequencing, remind yourself that the following tenets always apply:

Keep it simple
You dont need to reinvent anything
Teach what you know

Having a solid foundation in the principles of yoga will eventually unlock spontaneous creativity within that framework. But not without time, dedication, and practice.

6 Principles for Teaching Vinyasa Yoga Sequences

Creating a sequence requires awareness of so many things. Although when you need a reminder of the foundational principles of vinyasa yoga, come back to the following:

  1. Have a clear beginning, middle, and end of your class that leads toward a particular pose or action.
  2. Start with simple poses and transitions before cueing students into more complex poses and transitions.
  3. Start with open and spacious poses to prepare for closed and compact poses. Open poses are those in which your body faces the long side of the mat, including Triangle Pose, Warrior 2, and Extended Side Angle. These typically feel better in the body before practicing more closed poses like Warrior 1, Pyramid Pose, and Revolved Triangle, in which the hips face the short side of the mat.
  4. Stick to classic transitions, such as Triangle to Half Moon or Warrior 1 to Warrior 3. They work.
  5. Focus your cues on the arms and legs. If you get students to put their arms and legs in the right position, it typically gets them 90 percent into the pose.
  6. If youre still feeling frustrated with your sequence, know that it does not need to be overly creative or complicated to be interesting and, most importantly, of benefit to students. You can still draw on creativity in the cues you use, how you instruct the breath, and what you draw your students attention to in a pose.

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