What is yoga?

(other than stretching)

Have you ever thought about what draws you to hiking (other than the exercise)?

Hiking is stress-care, and so is yoga.  You know that moment about 20 minutes into a hike where you just stop and let out a big releasing breath because peace of mind has finally found you?  Yes!  But sometimes it’s nice when we don’t have to wait for the calm to find us.  Yoga teaches how to find it ourselves.  Yoga has techniques on how to use your breath and how to use your movement to find peace of mind. 

Hiking is emotional self-care, and so is yoga.  If I’m upset about something, the trail is where I head to walk it off.  Yoga helps us with our emotional self as well.  Yoga teaches ways to notice our emotions as they are happening in our body and in our mind. Yoga teaches ways to notice our patterns of thought as we navigate the real world.

Hiking is energetic self-care, and so is yoga.  A quick hike helps me step through that late afternoon energy lull.  Yoga teaches that our body has an energetic self, and it teaches ways of paying attention to your body’s energetic language.  These techniques can be used on long hikes or during long work days.   

A solo hike is mindful, and so is yoga.  For me, the best part about hiking is the silence of nature.  On the trail, I can quiet my thoughts and become present in the moment.  Yoga teaches ways to quiet your thoughts when the trail isn’t available. 

Hiking with a friend is advice-giving, and so is yoga.  Yoga is 5,000 years old!  The timeless advice of yoga philosophers can help us navigate life changes, relate to others, and live a healthy life.   

Yoga is spiritual.   Yoga is not a religion, nor can any one religion claim yoga.  But it does teach that we are not alone.  Like on the trail, there is freedom in yoga to imagine your higher connection any way you choose.