I was not in a Namaste frame of mind when I got to Hiking Yoga Saturday morning. I'm slightly ashamed to say, I was a bit hungover and I had contemplated feeding my hangover tummy with breakfast tacos on the way to the session. Quite by accident, I found out at the last minute (they called late last nite while my phone was off) that our session had been changed from the north location (Bull Creek Park) to the South (Barton Creek Greenbelt). I was frantically trying to re-orient myself and my grrl on the new location, my belly was grumbling (hubby gave me a Clif bar-f), and my sis was visiting and was trying to catch up with me while I google mapped. Me and my grrl were about one breath away from saying screw it at 7:30 that morning. I am so glad we didn't miss it. We got there on time and the meetup point was easy to find. I am VERY ashamed to say, after living in Austin for 20+ yrs, that I have never been on the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Partly because it seems so vast and confusing on where to park, where to start, etc. So, while the location change was initially confusing, I was very happy that I was forced to figure this out and now I know at least this leg of the trail. We "put in" at the Scottish Woods trailhead and hiked to Twin Falls (well, until we get rain, Big Rocks), stopping a total of three times to do yoga (about a 3 mile hike). I was actually a little nervous that I wouldn't be in good enough shape for this adventure but it was not terribly strenuous. The trail is rough with lots of rock and roots, so wear good shoes. And the yoga was very simple. Nothing too crazy until our last stop when we partnered up, stood back to back, locked arms and lifted our partner up on our backs. Seemed impossible but was such a great lower back stretch. I will say that doing yoga in gravel ain't easy. I unavoidably widened my stance too much on warrior pose as my foot kept sliding in the rocks. ouch. Our instructor, Chelsea, and her "assistant adjustor" Abe, were very sweet and enthusiastic. There were several in the group with little to no yoga experience (mine is slight as well) and looking around as we posed, there were some who were waay off and were not corrected. It's probably hard to keep an eye on everyone spread out in the woods and the gravel was not ideal, but we got the impression that this was more about getting outside and enjoying Austin than about proper yoga technique. Chelsea was a great instructor tho. We finished up on a rocky ledge overlooking a pond and stream, meditating and listening to the frogs and birds and the breeze in the trees and on our warmed-by-the-sun skin. And as Chelsea quietly intoned "Let's just meditate and be thankful we can spend our morning in this beautiful place with others that feel the same way." I felt the calm wash over me and got a little teary eyed. I'd found my Namaste frame of mind. read more

Hiking Yoga - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This workout is a fun way to start your weekend mornings! When I get bored with my regular routine I seek out a new studio or type of class that does not require a long term commitment and hiking yoga fits the bill. The group meets the instructor at the Barton Creek Greenbelt sign and for the next 90 minutes you have the opportunity to take in the serene beauty of the greenbelt. The instructor leads the group through the trail and stops a few times to do poses like standing sun salutations, balancing poses, and various warrior poses. All the yoga is done standing so no mat is needed. Talking is not discouraged during the hiking portion of the class. Make sure to save some energy for the end. It is unbelievably more challenging getting back up the Hill of Life as it was coming down! Hiking yoga was the perfect change of pace I was seeking the two classes I attended. The area is so beautiful, water flowing over the rocks and green is prominent even in the winter months. Other hikers, bikers and swimming dogs kindly share the park. Be sure to make room to let them pass. Note: The park does not have a parking lot. There is however ample street parking. read more

Hiking Yoga - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I signed up for a couple of sessions of this through Groupon, and it was such a great experience. It was the perfect antidote to a hectic and stressful week, and it turned out to be a total endorphin-booster. I've had classes with the lovely Chelsea at other yoga studios around town, but this was my first experience with anything like this. Hiking yoga is such a great concept, and Austin's Greenbelt offers the perfect setting for it. I did the hike in South Austin on the Barton Creek Greenbelt, and we hiked around 3 miles total and stopped 3-4 times to do yoga. You don't have to be experienced with yoga to be able to enjoy this--it's less about form and more about stretching and breathing and just enjoying your surroundings. There is stretch of hiking where Chelsea asked us to hike in silence and meditate, and then we ended with a nice group meditation near the water. The climb back up the Hill of Life to the trail head is a beast, but so worth it once you get back to the top. I definitely recommend it for anyone who's never been out to the Greenbelt and is curious about exploring it or for anyone who loves yoga and nature. read more

The hikes were good, but you have to be in the frame of mind to chat or endure chatting around you while you hike. It's not really like an "Om" yoga class, but more like a social class. Still, the instructors have good energy and doing yoga outdoors is liberating. I didn't give them a higher score because of the lack of organization. Several times I have received a confirmation text after 9pm at night for a hike at 8:30am the next morning. Plus, I have gotten a phone message about a change of location that said I would be getting an email, but the email didn't get sent until after 11:00pm, and the hike was at 8:30am the next day. That is not enough notice for me. read more

Hiking yoga is a fun workout in a beautiful place. Today I took my first hiking yoga class. The hike is moderately strenuous. It's just shy of 3 miles and the area of the Barton Creek greenbelt that we hiked today was simply gorgeous. Sadly, some of it was underwater not so long ago but hopefully it will be again this year. Here's hoping at least. The yoga is mild in intensity. Brea, our instructor/guide was very nice, very energetic and was obviously enjoying the morning. If you are looking for something a little off the beaten path, this is an energetic, beautiful addition to any workout regimen. read more

I love yoga, and I love the greenbelt. This is a fun, energizing way to start the weekend!!

Very Well Done. I enjoyed the whole experience. And the gentle rain that fell didn't hurt. Chelsea is a very competent teacher and I think she did a great job. I'm going back next week. 'nough said. ---that from a review I wrote 6 months ago that some how never got posted. I've been back half a dozen times since then and it's always a wonderful experience. Brea is also a great teacher and I look forward to my next class. read more

My friend and I were looking for something different to do and this was definitely it. Neither of us is particularly outdoorsy and would probably not have gone hiking otherwise but I'm glad we did hiking yoga. Most of the hike is pretty low-key with a harder part at the end where you have to go up a steep hill for a bit. The yoga is also pretty low-intensity. We were able to catch up, enjoy being outside, and work up a bit of an appetite on a Saturday morning. I really enjoyed the last stop for yoga where we sat on some rocks by a creek. We had 8 or so other women along for the ride and people were friendly but not overly so. Advice- you meet up at a random entrance that doesn't look like much, at least if you're not familiar with the park (we weren't) and although it was a bit chilly (50s) when we showed up we definitely warmed up during the hike. I recommend under-dressing a bit and wearing layers. I didn't bring a water bottle because I didn't want to carry it but once it gets a bit warmer I think that will be a must! Also, there is no obvious access to a restroom before or during the hike. Go before you show up! read more

I have the best time on this hike!!!! Chelsea was amazing and so fun, and really had great insight into yoga and life. I really loved some of the things she had to say. The hike was relaxing and the perfect way to start off the weekend. The yoga was different but amazing all the same. It put you out of your comfort zone, but you found a way to make it through. The greenbelt was perfect place to hike, even in this heat, but there were some great places to do yoga and really embrace nature and not focus on how hot it was. If you love yoga, walking, nature, meeting people, this is a great start to the Saturday and I would recommend it to anyone. read more

I signed up for Hiking Yoga through Groupon. I love Yoga and Nature, so said why not! It was nice to do something a little different, and not to do 100 Vinyasas in a hour!! Chelsea is amazing a true Yogi. Cant wait to go again. read more

This was the worst Groupon I've ever bought. I tried to go to two different yoga hikes and they were both fails. The first time, it was raining and they failed to send out the email cancellation, so several of us waited for no one to show up. The second time, a friend and I signed up for a 10:00 am yoga hike, but we received a call at 8:30 am day of saying they were waiting for us. No email to let us know the time was changed! Apparently it's too hot out at 10:00 am. I won't try a third time! read more

WOW!! This is a GREAT way to hike some wonderful trails in Austin. I had always wanted to try some trails in Austin and kept putting it off. I bought a Groupon to try them out for a girls weekend and this was the best way to start our day! Eric, the instructor was friendly and very knowledgeable on giving us tips on proper hiking stance and the yoga was perfect--not too intense on the yoga--just the right amount of stretching and breathing. The places he picked to stop for the yoga were the most breathtaking scenery. I did not know there was still these "hidden gems" in Austin. This is a great way to get in some exercise, hiking and yoga all in one. The price is very reasonable also. Highly recommend!! read more