Yoga backpacking trips through U.S. National Parks

Photo by Julia Drake

Hurray! It’s world health day. One of the best things we can do for our health is to roam the great outdoors. There are more than 365 National Park areas in the U.S. offering a breathtaking bounty of forests, rivers and lakes, rugged mountains, deserts, and wildlife. Spending time in nature is a great way to get a bird’s eye view on the daily vicissitudes running our lives, and watching them all from above, they often deflate into insignificance.

But working 24/7, it can sometimes be difficult to wrestle our souls away from the daily routine. That’s why Yoga backpacking or Wilderness Yoga––a new trend that combines roaming nature with gentle yoga sessions––can help yogis and non-yogis connect with "the now" through mindful walking and interaction with nature in meditation and movement. Feel your body move, smell the wildflowers, listen to the forest hum, and sink into the experience.

Most Yoga backpacking trips run 3-4 days, are limited to a small number of participants, and include guides, yoga and meditation practice, healthy, organic gourmet cuisine, a range of accommodations (tents or mountain lodges) plus plenty of idle time to either socialize with fellow travelers or explore nature and your inner landscape on your own. The costs range from $100 to $700, depending on length of stay, location and amenities included in the trip.

So pack your mat and hit the trails to celebrate your health on an invigorating backpacking and yoga retreat.

Here are a few companies that offer Yoga backpacking:

1. Wild Moon Yoga: Trips start in April. Destinations include the Springtime Waterfall Tour in Yosemite, Wildflower Hikes in Big Sur, Camping in the Sierra Camp in Sequoia National Park and more. Price depends on trip, itinerary and number of people. Group size is minimum of 2 people.
2. Women’s Wilderness Institute: Trips start in April. Destinations include the Green River Yoga Retreat in Utah and camping in the Rocky Mountains. Prices start at $480.
3.  Moab Yoga on the Rocks: Trips start in April. The company offers various backpacking trips through Utah’s Canyonlands National Park Price for all tours: $650.