How Yoga Can Bring Balance to Your Walk (and Your Life)

As the winds of winter whip through banks of snow and ice, many of us find ourselves gazing wistfully at our beloved streets and trails through frosty window panes—wishing for better weather and the walks we enjoy most. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to stay fit while also staying warm—for example, going to the gym, walking on an indoor track, and swimming in an indoor pool. And valuable though those practices are, they don’t always provide the same togetherness, and community, as an organized walk with friends. Fortunately for us, the Country Walkers Director of Tour Operations is Sharon MacFarlane—certified yoga instructor to the stars (well, Country Walkers staff members, who are all stars in our book!) Sharon has spent the last nine years teaching a gentle vinyasa flow class—including weekly yoga classes for Country Walkers staff. Her expertise brings us valuable insights about enhancing flexibility, developing strong support muscles in hips and ankles, and combating the loneliness of the digital age. “In the wintertime especially, people tend to spend a lot of time on their phones, rather than personally interacting,” observes Sharon. “That can lead to a state of isolation that doesn’t feel very good. Walking together with people is a wonderful way to lift those barriers—and a yoga class is similar because it’s an opportunity be in a room with other like-minded people who are all seeking to align their energies.” A little yoga with friends is the perfect antidote for those winter doldrums.

Yoga and Walking—What’s the Connection?

The physical postures of yoga are perfect for promoting balance and flexibility—both of which are essential for enjoying a good walk. Particularly when you’re hiking in the woods or walking over uneven terrain, balance is key for stability—and flexibility is essential when it comes to climbing over logs, boulders, or simply bending down to pick up your pack after enjoying a delicious picnic lunch. “With the physical practice of yoga, the stretches and movements are designed to lengthen the muscles,” says Sharon. “And in addition to lengthening it's also strengthening. So, you’re not just stretching—you’re also increasing your strength around the muscles and bones.” The increased flexibility and resilience that yoga promotes is perfect for preparing you for days spent on the walking trail—making it easier to traverse uneven terrain without risk of injury. “As we get older, balance tends to become more challenging,” observes Sharon. “For myself, I’ve noticed my yoga practice promotes strength in my ankles, legs, and hips. There are these small little muscles in the hip that help with balance, and yoga postures are a great way to work those muscles—which means you’re going to have stronger balance and ultimately, have more fun on the trail.” Although a gentle yoga practice won’t feel extreme or make you sore, over time the improvement in balance and flexibility is quite remarkable. A complex physical and spiritual practice with origins in Eastern philosophy, yoga offers many different styles and approaches depending on your interests and needs. Most involve deep breathing and mindfulness—helping you become aware of how your body feels and what it needs. “There are so many types of yoga,” says Sharon. “But all of them help people learn how to receive feedback from their body—as well as the skills to know how to respond to that feedback and give the body what it needs in the moment. Something that works really well for you one day might not be what you need on another day. Learning to listen to what your body needs is key to promoting health and happiness.” With its focus on deep breathing, yoga also helps oxygenate the blood—boosting energy levels and increasing relaxation. “The classes that I teach are generally focused on centering, breathing and moving into a gentle flow of postures that give people time to make the connection between the movement of their breath and the movement of their body,” says Sharon. “At the end, you always have a chance to relax, reflect, and integrate the practice deeply.” It’s not uncommon to see a group of people exiting a yoga class in a state of blissed-out relaxation—enjoying that delicious (if momentary) feeling that all is well with the world.

Breathing the Breath of Joy

The practice of yoga is a very personal thing, and there’s no one-size-fits-all formula. “I hear a lot of people say, I'm not flexible. I can't do yoga,” says Sharon. “And I always ask them, can you breathe? Because if you can breathe, you can do yoga.” Yoga is a practice that’s meant to be built upon—and there’s no pressure to start out at any particular level. In fact, the practice of yoga is antithetical to competition. “Maybe today you can't touch your toes, or you can't do a posture in a way that you perceive it should be,” says Sharon. “That doesn't mean that you won’t be able to do it over time, with practice. I think sometimes people can have limiting thoughts because of images online, or in magazines, of very fit people doing these extreme postures. And that’s just not what it’s all about—or what the majority of yoga practitioners are really doing.” Yoga gives you the opportunity to be your authentic self—where the idea of competition is entirely irrelevant. “It’s not about being the best, or the strongest, or the most flexible,” says Sharon. “I was at a practice recently, and the instructor was talking about allowing yourself to simply experience joy in your practice—and to share joy with other people. Just being able to do that, in small everyday ways, is an incredible way to build resilience and defy the negativity that often comes at us in our daily lives.” If you’ve ever experienced joy while walking with friends, consider finding a yoga class near you—it’s a wonderful way to improve your balance, heighten your flexibility, and feel a small measure of the love that truly is all around you.