Meditation, Yoga, Dance Party

It was dark, raining and 6:30am on a Sunday morning when we arrive at a tucked-away building on Industrial Ave notable for its huge ceramic toadstool yard decor. We’re not typically early-birds, nor are we exceptionally avid club-goers, but having heard about morning specials (a strange cohesion of workout and hipster dance party gaining favour in New York and L.A.) we were too intrigued to sleep in.

Upon entering, we were handed a new Saltspring Island cold brew coffee, which we thought was a beer (which would have been ok, too) and set up our yoga mats in the warm, candlelit room. We’d thought companionship would be a hard sell on this event, but wound up there with two enthusiastic girlfriends. “I feel like we’re all going to be offered to drink of the soul tea,” said one pal moments before a woman offered us mushroom-infused hot chocolate (not that kind of mushroom, though at a morning rave, who’d be surprised?)

Meditation, guided by Tibetan throat singing, had us feeling languorous as dawn began to filter through shades of blue, and was followed by a great hour of yoga. Then, a DJ took over, guests (after sampling a spread of tropical fruit with mint, kombucha, raw chocolate and oatmeal) filtered onto the dance floor, and we decided we’d found our people.

Turns out Sunday morning’s the new Saturday night.  

Vancouver Morning Special, for more information and updates on the next event, click here. 

—Adrienne Matei