Enhance your Hiking Trips with Yoga

Most people think of hiking and yoga as two completely different activities that have no correlation. However, practicing yoga can be extremely beneficial for hikers, and hiking can complement your yoga practice as well. Both activities are extremely meditative & can bring harmony to one's body and mind.

Doing a few yoga asanas(poses) & stretches before and after your trek can help reduce the risk of sore muscles after your hike and can also reduce the risk of injury during your hike. Yoga can help improve focus, increase your balance, which is really essential for hikers, and it can also help build stamina, endurance and strength, which can help you conquer more challenging and rewarding hikes! If you are a high altitude hiker, practicing pranayama (yoga breathing techniques) can help you acclimatize to various altitudes with ease. Breathing techniques not only helps to increase lung capacity but has tremendous psychological benefits too. There are variety of yogic breathing techniques and some help to cool off your body (Shitali, Sitkari, dogs panting breath to name a few) and some helps to generate inner heat (Kapalbhati, Bhastrika to name a few). Any activity done with the conscious awareness of breath not only helps the individual to perform their activity to the optimum but also reduces stress level and helps to have a stable heart rate.

That being said, hiking can help you make the most out of your yoga sessions. The constant movement allows for your joints perform their best, which will later help with your flexibility.

Get your yoga mat , start practicing yoga & breathing techniques. You are guaranteed to see great results during your hike. So get out there and explore! You won't regret it!