Category Archives: Yoga

Curious about Yoga Hikes?  We absolutely love this article by The Washington Post’s Vicky Hallett!  Read below or check out the online article to read more of Vicky Hallett’s pieces on fitness in the DC area http://www.readexpress.com/2013/09/the-biggest-studio-in-d-c/ The Biggest Studio in D.C. Yoga Hikes move off the mat and explore parks across the city By Vicky Hallett Posted on September 10, 2013 When Danielle Reyes cues her students to reach up to the sky, they really can. Before starting class, yoga instructor Danielle Reyes is sure to share this pearl of wisdom with her students: “Look down and make sure your hands won’t touch anything sharp or unpleasant.” That’s because instead of standing on a wood floor, the group is on top of grass, dirt and twigs — and possibly some surprises. The scenery is always changing on Yoga Hikes, which Reyes launched this spring to give Washingtonians a different…

Read more

Always More to Learn and Room to Grow Yoga Hikes was honored to be part of the 2013 Yoga Alliance Business of Yoga Conference held at the Capital Hilton August 8-10th.  The conference covered a broad range of  business considerations for those involved in the yoga industry.  It was incredibly well organized, highly informative, and had an extremely impressive roster of presenters from Tom Gardner of The Motley Fool to Julia Kadarusman of Wanderlust Festival.  Most importantly it was inspiring! For more on the conference, check out the Twitter hashtag #yogabiz. As a yoga teacher and small business owner there is always more to learn and room for growth.  A conference like this gives you new ideas from how to organize workshops, practical guidance on important legal and insurance considerations, as well as strategies for turning your dreams into reality.  As the owner of Yoga Hikes LLC, I was pleased…

Read more

For many, summer is about spending as much time outdoors as possible. We relish the long days, let loose our inner child, and enjoy outdoor activities with friends. Yoga Hikes is a great way to embrace all of these things and celebrate this playful season. There’s just one thing…the heat! When the summer heat is at it’s most intense and an excessive heat warning or air quality advisory has been issued, Yoga Hikes takes it very seriously. Hazardous weather can have extreme consequences on our bodies, which are just not designed for intense activities in temperatures above 90 degrees. In such conditions, over exerting ourselves can result in heat related illness, exhaustion, and stroke. For this reason, Yoga Hikes will be cancelled during heat waves or days of excessive heat. Since the weather has become increasingly unpredictable, as of July 22, 2013 we’ve decided to modify our cancellation policy. For…

Read more

We want Yoga Hikes to be the best experience it can be, so we take your reviews and feedback to heart!  After only 4 weeks in operation we are thrilled that participants have jumped right onto Yelp to share their positive experiences.  Not only is there a great diversity of voices and experiences expressed in these reviews, we’ve heard from 20-somethings to 40 somethings, and representatives from Maryland, DC, and Virginia!   Better yet, of the 7 reviews posted thus far we’ve maintained a 5 out of 5 stars rating!  Thank you!! Haven’t seen the reviews?  Here’s a sneak peek! Zack M. thinks – This is going to be the new thing in DC. It’s a good workout, takes place outside, and you get to be social during the hike. We went on the Pierce Mill  route, an hour and a half of hills and beautiful scenery. Danielle, the owner/instructor, is incredibly knowledgeable both about the area (ask…

Read more

We couldn’t be more excited about being mentioned in Washingtonian online!  Special thanks to Well + Being reporter, Melissa Romero, who joined us, not as an observer, but as a full on participant for the Rock Creek Park/Dumbarton Oaks Park/Montrose park Nature Yoga Hike.  We’ve included the excerpt on Yoga Hikes DC below, but for the full article, click on the image or visit http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/wellbeing/fitness/4-unusual-fitness-friendly-ways-to-celebrate-memorial-day.php 4 Unusual Fitness-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Practice yoga in the woods of DC or try standup paddleboarding for free on the Eastern Shore. By Melissa Romero There are lots of fitness-friendly ways to celebrate Memorial Day in Washington, from standup paddleboarding to yoga and hiking in Rock Creek Park.   Photograph via Shutterstock. Published May 24, 2013 [EXCERPT] Each year on Memorial Day, through barbecues and picnics with family and friends, we remember those who lost their lives while serving in the US Armed Forces. But…

Read more

Thank You for Making our Launch Awesome! If you’ve been wondering why you hadn’t heard about Yoga Hikes before, it’s because we are new! Yoga Hikes DC launched in May 2013 and is off to a great start thanks to people like you!   It’s only May and we’ve had some fantastic Urban and Nature Yoga Hikes and have already made it through days of steady drizzle and days of heat and humidity.  Conditions won’t always be ideal, but that has not stopped  you from showing up and giving 100%.    Those of you who have participated in our inaugural Yoga Hikes have been amazing! We can’t thank you enough for your energy, enthusiasm, and sense of adventure.  It proves what we already knew to be true about this region…it is comprised of amazing people who love to be out and about and are always up for new activities.  So first things first, THANK YOU! Email Us Your Feedback…

Read more

Do I need to bring a mat?  Can I participate if I’m new to yoga?  How far do we hike? All good questions and we appreciate you asking! The most commonly asked question to date has definitely been, “Do I need to bring a mat?”  Great news!  You do NOT need to bring a yoga mat with you!  During a Yoga Hike we want you to have an active cardio experience, so your arms and legs need to be free to move unencumbered.  Also, if you’ve practiced yoga outside you know that a mat is not always that helpful and sometimes messy.  What is helpful are our handy mat squares, which provide a good barrier between your bottom and the ground.  Your instructor will have mat squares for everyone to use at the final YogaStop.  That said, the choice to take a seated or full savasana on the ground is up to the comfort level…

Read more

When you go on a Yoga Hike, there are several things we want to be sure you experience. a great yoga flow a good dose of heart pumping cardio, and a really good time outdoors For these things to occur, its important that the trails we select offer the perfect mix of inclines and interest!  Urban Yoga Hikes are roughly 90 minutes and we want to maximize that time and get you moving through the city.  We start with 15 minutes of yoga at our first “Yoga Stop” and then hike for approximately 15 minutes to get to our next Yoga Stop and repeat this rotation. The first priority is to find Yoga Stops that are both special and functional places.  On a Nature Hike you can expect to stop in open fields, along the river, or clearings in the woods.  Urban Hikes have more variables!  On Urban Hikes we’ll bring you to public green spaces that…

Read more

Surrounded by lush green vegetation with the sound of the waves in the distance, I experienced my first full yoga class outdoors and it was transformative. Moving through our poses amid the fresh air and beauty of the outdoors seemed like the most natural thing in the world. I remember saying, “I would practice yoga every day, if it was outdoors!”

Read more

19/19