Yoga at the Campsite: 5 poses for camping yogis

Camping has always been a special summer tradition for me and my family. Each year, my dad researches mountainous gems of land, packs up our minivan with coolers, hiking boots and trail mix and takes my family out into the woods for a special adventure.

It wasn’t until our trip last summer, though, that I realized how perfect an addition yoga was to this trip in the beautiful wilderness. Fresh air, chirping birds and a sleeping pad—what more could you need?

If your travels this summer happen to take you to a campsite, here are a few yoga postures that go great between a hike and roasting tasty s’mores! Find a flat spot of land, take in the fresh air and enjoy this peaceful respite to your life.

Tree Pose

• Come into Mountain pose and ground through your standing leg

• Place your opposite foot on the inside of your foot, calf or thigh, avoiding your knee joint

• Take any arm variation that is comfortable

Dancer's Pose

• Begin in Mountain pose and ground down through your standing leg

• Reach for the inside of your opposite foot with all five fingers

• Begin to kick your foot out with your hips squared to the ground as you stretch your opposite fingers forward

Frog Pose

• Bring your feet out wide to the edges of the mat with your heels in and your toes out

• Bring your hands to heart center as your elbows help gently push your knees out

• Sit up tall and spread your collarbones apart

Seated Forward Fold

• Come to a comfortable seat with your legs extended in front of you

• Bring your arms overhead and reach for your feet as you squeeze your shoulder blades together for a flat back

• Hold your feet, your big toes or whatever is accessible to you and lets you feel a good stretch

Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose

• Roll all the way onto your back and extend your arms down at your sides

• Straighten your legs and flex your toes at your face

• Keep a soft gaze at the sky or close your eyes and relax

Enjoy the great outdoors as you stretch and unwind!

About the Blogger: Ellie Cole

Ellie loves yoga.

No matter how harried she feels outside of the studio, every time she enters and is warmly greeted by her teachers and her surrounding community, life feels good. She took her first CorePower Yoga class at the suggestion of one of her closest friends, and she hasn’t looked back since. The combination of sweat, smiles, movement and challenge changed her.

Ellie moved from Maine to Colorado for college, lacrosse and the beautiful mountains, and she is thrilled to call Denver her home. She joined the CorePower Yoga Marketing Team in the spring of 2013 and also teaches for CorePower Yoga in the Denver region. She feels so lucky that her passions for writing, connecting with people and yoga have all collided in her dream job.