On May 7, in 50-degree rainy weather, my family and I ran the Wanderlust 5K in Sacramento, Calif. in honor of my nephew, who's battling Ewing's sarcoma pediatric cancer. I'm not an experienced runner, other than months in preparation doing intervals on the treadmill, nevertheless, I was motivated to complete it fully and willingly. If you haven't heard of Wanderlust, it's a touring company with an array of yogi festivals and the world's only mindful triathlon centered around communal mindful living and practicing with purpose as a whole.

As I continue to morph through my own personal meditation process and become closer with my own self, it was refreshing for me to anticipate being with 600 other yogis to celebrate vibrant living. With the generalization of a 5K in mind, Wanderlust really focuses on self-awareness rather than running and expediting large amounts of energy. Most ran, others jogged, some walked -- but the importance of the run wasn't a time received, it was the experience of togetherness.

I considered it to be a zen-oriented triathlon without any stress or rivalry, although it does challenge you to push your mind and body to run, another main focal point is interconnecting between entities besides your own. Interestingly, in many Eastern traditions, the 108 signifies the joining between mind, body, and spirit. The 1 defines unity, the 0 represents stillness, and the 8 illustrates infinite possibilities. Basing the entire day of activities off of these ideals, the triathlon instills harmony and wellness among the attendees.

I was pleasantly surprised how hyped all of the volunteers and fellow yogis were after the run. It was a bit drizzly, but everyone pushed through and made it the best time. MCYogi was incredible! The crowd was excited and lively which made my experience so much more memorable! Following the run, we were able to practice two hours of straight vinyasa flow yoga, and afterward, relaxed with a mindful 30-minute meditation.

Go experience something awesome! This was truly unforgettable -- I would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat. We all have the power to push ourselves further than our comfortability; step outside of your comfort zone and yoga flow like there's no tomorrow! The positive energy of it all really brought my connection back to center and I'm certainly looking forward to my next Wanderlust 5K! Namasté.