Let nature be thy medicine

Not only is hiking a great workout and a fun way to spend time outdoors, researchers are now saying it causes changes to your brain. Like yoga, hiking can be a way to relieve stress, calm the mind and exercise the body, and recent studies have also found that it may increase the ability to focus, have psychological benefits and increase creativity and problem-solving.

To combine health benefits of yoga and hiking, together with my fellow yoga teacher Kimberlee Strome I am leading 90-minute YOGAhikes on five Saturdays this summer. An invigorating pace promises to get hearts pumping, lungs breathing and souls lifting. During four, 10-minute yoga stops participants realize how hiking complements yoga and yoga in turn aids hiking. No prior yoga experience is required and all levels are welcome.

We want to leave the predictability of the rectangular yoga mats in rectangular studios behind.

Each of us has more than 20 years of experience teaching group fitness. We know that exercising in a group has a fun, social component. YOGAhikes allow time to chat with friends and attract those who want to connect more deeply to themselves and also with their friends. 

A YOGAhike is like prescription strength nature blended with a refreshingly relaxed yoga practice.

Kimberlee and I graduated for yoga teacher training at Charm City Yoga two years ago and rekindled our friendship at a hiking yoga workshop in New York City earlier this year. We are so grateful to combine our love for nature, yoga and teaching and share this refreshing new approach with Baltimore.

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