Yoga Plus Hiking Equals Bliss

January is a time for resolutions and goal setting. Social media feeds are filled with ads for weight loss products, diets, and the latest exercise regimens. 2020 filled many of us with uncertainty. With travel restrictions changing every week, we searched for outdoor recreation and ways to satisfy wanderlust.

Is Hiking the New Yoga? Idly killing time the other day, this headline leaped off the tablet and stopped my scroll. I do both, and I love both. I have, on occasion, combined the two. Yoga hikes, anyone? But can one replace the other? Let’s compare and contrast, shall we?

Hiking and yoga are both full-body workouts.

Both activities will increase strength in your legs and give your core a killer workout. The uneven surfaces in hiking will force your body and core to readjust for balance, and the planks in yoga? They speak for themselves. Both activities also offer cardiovascular benefits.

Hiking and yoga both improve lung function.

As with any cardio activity, the more you hike, the more you’ll improve your lung capacity. Yoga will improve your breathing capacity and teach you breathing techniques to calm your system and relax. On a recent hike in Colorado, these techniques helped when I felt out of breath in the higher altitudes. I was able to slow my breathing and take in more air using my yoga breath.

Hiking and yoga both build endurance.

Hiking for miles on uneven terrain, powering up inclines, and putting the brakes on when going downhill, carrying a pack; all builds endurance. Yoga does too. Ask anyone who’s done a Vinyasa, also known as a flow yoga practice. Or held a pose until their limbs were quivering.

Hiking and yoga are great for meditation and introspection.

Both activities encourage mindfulness. Yoga does so actively as part of the practice. The repetition of placing one foot in front of the other while hiking, plus the bonus of being surrounded by nature, encourages mindfulness and reflection.

Hiking and yoga are inexpensive.

Now, if you want to do yoga in Nepal while hiking the Himalayas, it’s gonna cost you. But the entry point for both activities is a good pair of shoes and a yoga mat, respectively.

For me, one doesn’t replace the other. They are an exceptional complement to one another. And combining the two is divine. Coming off a crazy year, I think I can speak for all of us when I say everyone could use a little time spent in the peacefulness of nature and some mental clarity. And stress relief? Well, that goes without saying. So go on, do some hiking, do some yoga, do them together or separately.

Go forth, people, and bliss out!

As always, thanks for reading! XOXO