Yoga Hiking Adventures

Yoga Hiking in Boulder CO

This summer we kicked off Yoga Trails hikes in Boulder, Colorado and I’m asking myself could it get any better than this?!

We’ve enjoyed hikes with yoga peppered throughout the hike, meditation on the trail, destination yoga on mountain peaks, and other fresh-air variants of nature-inspire yoga.

My favorite part, however, has been meeting the incredible people who have been joining these hikes. We all join together for the common goal of experiencing nature-drenched yoga and through this shared interest find natural connections and comradery amongst our group.

Here are some photo highlights from the summer’s Yoga Trails adventures so far.

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Yoga Hike Strive to Thrive

People say that if they received the diagnosis of cancer they wouldn’t go down without a fight. This begs the question that if you’ll fight to survive, why not fight to thrive? Why are we so given to complacency and contentment? Why do we give up on our true dreams so easily and fall softly into the status quo? When does the fight begin? Should we wait until given a death sentence to feel the desire to really live?

If you were lucky the adults in your life told you to dream big as a child. They supported your imagination and your ability to see how a piece of string on the couch is really a serpent perched in its castle. We call this “inner child” in adulthood and some of us are lucky enough to hang on. But for the vast majority moving from childhood meant “growing up” and out of dreaming.

I had an experience recently that freed me to get in touch with that happy-go-lucky little girl that built fortresses in dirt and belted out songs from the top of the slide. While traveling in South America, life became play again inspired by nature and the magic of life. For instance, I woke up one morning so full of energy after a long hike that while skipping to meet up with a horse I leapt a few times and kicked my heels together. This spontaneity is joy and dreaming is joy. Our whole lives can be joyful if we decide to celebrate each moment and look at life as one endless opportunity for turning our dreams into reality.

Live the dream!




Free Yoga

Imagine you enter a gorgeous park, the sky blue above your head, the birds singing from the trees. A sign in the park says Yoga Today Free, everyone welcome! Being new to yoga you haven’t yet purchased a mat but you wander over to check out the class as it begins to get started. The teacher welcomes you and hands you a spare mat. Coming onto the mat you realize you are surrounded by other community members, neighbors whom you know from the grocery store but not by name. They welcome you with warm smiles and then class begins. The teacher leads sun salutations and you flow through poses called Tree and Mountain. Though you are unfamiliar with these poses there is little struggle for perfection as the teacher guides you to observe your body and thoughts in a safe and encouraging way.

When the class is over you feel balanced and renewed. Your mind is free of worry and your body feels strong and flexible. A new day is just beginning and you step off your mat full of inspiration and grateful for the experience of yoga with your neighbors in a gorgeous park.

The difference you might find between free yoga and paying for yoga is not only in your wallet. Perhaps the best part of free yoga is the surprise feeling of receiving something without any expectation from the teacher and then the freedom that sets you free to pass on the joy that comes with giving. The teacher as you may have guessed IS actually receiving something when she provides free yoga and that energetic gift of giving is hugely rewarding.

Check out the free yoga offered through September at Brown Street Park! Free yoga For Everyone!

Yoga Hiking in Connecticut

Stepping onto the trail we were greeted by wild purple iris, frogs, and ferns. Greens of all shades popped from the tree branches, ground covering, and moss that hugged onto rock ledges. The fresh air entered into our lungs as we set our day’s intentions to the sound of “Om”.  The day continued with a mindful hike and deep observation of nature. A quick yoga stretch and our journey continued. Climbing, we felt the direct connection between the earth’s contours and our own bodies as our breath began to deepen and heat built up in our muscles.

The sun shined on our faces as we took warrior pose gazing up to the birds above. In mountain pose, strength and length were built in the spine and stable legs. We flowed through sun salutations welcoming the sun’s warmth and the surrounding tree’s gentle embrace. With Mother Nature as our guide, we celebrated each moment renewing our spirit and energy. The single track trail cut through rock face and over small streams where lady slipper and mountain laurel flanked the trail painting flecks of pink and yellow onto the glowing green canvas.

At the break, our teeth sank into sprouted whole grain bread as we soaked up tastes of avocado, crunchy cucumber, and smooth pine nut hummus layered beneath savory sprouts and organic cheddar cheese. Accompanying this we indulged in dark chocolate and roasted almonds as well as lightly salted organic stove top popcorn and organic apples.

Following this tasty delight, Rebecca Taliercio led us in an Introduction to Qigong where we recharged our energy and centered ourselves before pairing off to learn basic massage techniques. Thoroughly sated and relaxed we continued our journey, intentions still in our hearts.

At the end of the day we unwound with gentle yoga and reflected on the lessons of the trail. Thanks was given to all that nature and the pursuit of more conscious living can provide: openness, spaciousness, clarity, a non-judgmental well of love, a fountain of inspiration, and a forum for connection with ourselves and others. Om.

A special thanks to those that participated in the YogaTrails Pilot:

Kyle and Jayne Willets

Allie and Liz

Rebecca and Rosemarie in Tree Pose

Kyle & Tal in Ardha-Chandrasana

With love and gratitude,

Kyle

Yoga Hiking

Vilcabamba, Ecuador

Viejos in Vilcabamba:

From the hostel in Vilcabamba the flowers peek over the hillside to the opposite mountain range. The sun rose as I practiced yoga with birds swooping and chirping about. A butterfly gliding into the soft landing pad of a gorgeous tropical yellow flower. Ginger plants lean heavily into the path for the dorm to the restaurant. The simple structure of the cafe supports a rooftop garden that extends beyond the roof like eyelashes. I stilled my mind as the sun rose. Time may be passing but it´s at a slower pace. OM. Hiked in Vilcabamba along the clay ledge of a single track trail to a steep waterfall. We were 6 people and ventured into a discussion about depression. One had lost a dad to suicide and another both parents to illness and one other had been bed ridden for 6 weeks with severe depression. So, we are all on this journey we realized. All of us striking out against our achilles heal that sometimes tightens with fear. But we cant listen to it for too long or give into that sometimes sweet temptation to pull the covers over our eyes and hide from the scary edges of the world and our mind. On the mountain I felt full of vigor even despite the morbid talk, the vibrant surroundings lifted all of our spirits. Day #2 6 hours on a horse named Pisco –> one sore ass. Followed by massage, facial and reiki–> Heaven. Literally, I have never felt so balanced in my life. The calm settled into my body and I felt pure alignment, completely de-clogged with energy freed up. To begin, look into the heart. Have courage and move with grace. Accept challenges even if fear shows up.

Waterfall Yoga

Izhcayluma Hotel and Spa