The Queen of Daytime Television takes a spiritual journey traveling throughout the United States to touch the lives of others with “Oprah’s The Life You Want” Weekend. This eight-city arena tour and transformational weekend features Oprah Winfrey and a team of special guests, sponsored by Toyota and Olay. Attendees had the chance to experience “O Town,” a pop-up town square outside the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Oprah Lovers braved the elements and were rewarded with fun activities, food, entertainment, pampering at O Lounges that included celebrity guests, massages, makeovers, and lots of giveaways.
Mother Nature attempted to interrupt the party with tropical storm force winds and rainy drizzle. However, not even Mother Nature could stop Oprah’s dedicated followers from showing up. Attendees were armed with the coolest high-tech O Tour Wristbands (RFID Bracelet) which checked-in on social media, collected videos and photos which would ultimately commemorate the O Experience. These fashionable tech LED light wristbands were interactive, synched to music in the dark arena, and illuminate in a multitude of different colors during various event programming. They twinkled like bright stars in the night or as Oprah would say, “they shined like the stars you are”.
Lavish sponsored tents with cool things to see, do, and learn filled the streets of O Town. Netherlands based furnishing company, IKEA greeted guests with showroom worthy displays filled with pillowed beds, trendy couches, fluffy carpets, cabinets, fun storage concepts, and lighting. They truly succeeded in making visitors feel at home and as a special treat they went one step further by providing budget friendly DIY lessons from 5-time Emmy Award Winning Television Personality and Interior Design Expert, Cathy Hobbs.
“Oprah’s The Life You Want” Weekend fills your mind, body, and soul through a series of mini workshops. Each tour stop spans two days and on Friday nights Oprah takes center stage to deliver her personal story and insights to life in a one of a kind intimate evening. Winfrey uses her experiences, knowledge, and Aha Moments to help build her message and teach the audience by engaging, encouraging, and empowering women (and men) to become their best selves. Lady O shared with her followers that there is no life without a spiritual life, and she wasn’t talking about religion. She was referring to who you really are by listening to your inner self, that little whisper of a voice deep down inside, the spirit of you.
Oprah emphasized that our life’s legacy’s are built by everyone who we come in contact with. She expressed “that your life is speaking to you all of the time, and that you just have to listen. Most times we just stop paying attention because we are so focused on the wrong things that we become purpose confused.” It is better to be a better you than a pretend someone else, was a lesson that resonated with many. Winfrey preached that we each have our own paths to walk and that they will be filled with obstacles, challenges, joys, and triumphs.
On Saturday, Oprah leads a day-long gathering to thousands of people with her handpicked thought leaders and pop culture icons including New-Age Guru and world-renowned Indian-American author of mind-body medicine, Dr. Deepak Chopra; Iyanla Vanzant, star of OWN’s hit series “Iyanla Fix My Life,” regular O Magazine contributor best-selling author and spiritual life coach; best-selling author of Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert; and one of Time 100’s Most Influential people, Pastor Rob Bell.
Social Media played a major part in the way attendees were able to share their experiences from #TheLifeYouWantTour. Photos were streamed on the big screen throughout the entire event and this was a very cool way to entertain the audience in real time. Oprah and her Trailblazer’s even took to the stage to share their wisdom, advice, and recipes to understanding life with the use of Twitter. Best question of the night went to Deepak Chopra… Q: If you start to fall asleep while meditating is that good or bad? A: Then you should go to sleep. Needless to say, that this was not the answer that everyone was expecting to hear and you couldn’t help but to laugh. Deepak said, “that if you fall asleep, then that is the bodies way of telling you that you need more sleep”. Which made everyone realize that sometimes the wisest answers are sometimes the most simple.
Stacey Griffith, an Instructor for SoulCycle, a premiere full-body, indoor cycling workout, energized the arena during a customized workout that was retro fitted for the tour, to get people active in their seats. SoulCycle combines a unique mental component of inspirational coaching, curated music, and full-body workout on a bike. This innovative high energy exercise engages intense cardio, and body weight resistance for toning through core-engaging choreography. The SoulCycle program was a great way to get people energized after lunch and pumped for the remainder of the event programing.
While I can’t fill you in on all of the amazing details of “Oprah’s The Life You Want” Weekend… I am willing to share a few words of wisdom:
- Free yourself from emotional toxicity – hostility, resentments, jealousy, guilt, shame, fear. ~Dr. Deepak Chopra
- Life always tells you the truth… your job is to recognize, and accept it. ~Iyanla Vanzant
- Your life is speaking to you all the time. I want us all to fulfill our greatest potential. To find our calling, and summon the courage to live it. ~Oprah Winfrey
REMAINING TOUR DATES
Nov. 7-8, 2014 Seattle, Washington Key Arena at Seattle Center
Nov. 14-15, 2014 San Jose, California SAP Center at San Jose
“Oprah’s The Life You Want” Weekend is produced by Harpo Studios, O, The Oprah Magazine, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and WME Live, and is presented by Toyota and Olay.
