Hiking Yoga

My girlfriend had signed me up, and I was a little cautious about the whole thing. Turned out to be a really great experience! It’s far from the typical yoga room, but what poses and stretches are imposed were more than good enough for a «workout.» The hike itself was a compact dynamic tour of San Diego’s nature… which is slice of heaven on earth. Overall this type of class or tour is GREAT for people looking into yoga, hiking, or seeing the city of SD… I do recommend this form of yoga for everyone except the hardcore folks who could practically teach yoga themselves… IT’S ALL GOOD FOR EVERYONE ELSE!

I tried hiking yoga with my friend. Our instructor wasn’t really leading the class, she was often at the middle of the group and people at front weren’t sure which direction to always go. We stopped 3 times to do yoga, but it was more stretching then yoga. Certainly don’t think you’re going to get a work out.
It was a nice sunny day, so it was great to take a walk around Balboe park, just don’t think I need to pay for a walk next time. Maybe I just had a wrong impression about what to expect based on the reviews I read.
I’d recommend this to someone who is not seeking this as exercise more a relax start of your day and be outside.

Great experience! I bought a Living Social Deal & did the Mission Trails hike with Kristin. I really enjoyed the challenging hike, relaxing yoga and it was a great start to my Saturday. I will definitely go again!

I tried Hiking Yoga in San Diego when I was visiting the city with a friend. We are both from out of town and much colder climates so being outdoors in the sun was fantastic!
This was a great way to start the day with an exercise activity and to see Balboa Park from a different perspective. We were probably unique participants because we were tourists, but I think it definitely works for tourists! We got to see parts of the Park that we otherwise would have overlooked, we got to meet some locals and get some local recommendations, and sightsee while we were working out. It was a good 50 – 50 blend of hike and yoga, and the instructor Kristin was friendly and definitely offered options for folks who were beginners vs. more advanced yogis. We had a great time — super way to start the day!

Hiking & doing yoga with Kristin in Balboa Park was awesome! What a great way to see the park and exercise as well. I’ll definitely do this again…

very beautiful place to go for hiking, training, or just looking at great scenery!

Groupon provided an opportunity to try something new in the way of fitness for me. Beautiful environment + relaxed instruction = great experience! Try it, you will like it.

I bought a Groupon for Hiking Yoga and didn’t know what to expect, but I loved it. It was so nice to be outside hiking through Balboa Park on a Saturday morning and we explored areas of the park I had never seen before. I would recommend this to everyone and will be doing it again!

A GREAT workout, fun instructors, and beautiful scenery — a perfect way to exercise!!!

My sisters and I planned a visit for San Diego and bought Groupons for this Yoga Hike beforehand. WE LOVED IT! Being in Balboa Park was awesome. The meeting place was very easy to find and the instructor was on time. We walked through the main part of Balboa Park passing the Botanical Garden and some of the museums. The hike was not too intense, but made us feel great. We got some great stretches in and our instructor, Kristen was wonderful. In the end we stopped at a rock and got a chance to meditate. Later my sisters and I walked back to the Botanical Gardens and hung out there.

I bought a couple classes through Groupon with the intent of using them at Torrey Pines. However, by the time I signed up for a class (several months later) the company was no longer offering classes there. Although initially I was bummed, after I attended my first class that went out the window.
I did a Saturday morning session with a friend at Balboa Park. I love this place, so maybe I’m a bit biased. Nevertheless, Cara was a fantastic guide; super friendly, energetic during the cardio part and calming during the yoga. It was chilly and it started to drizzle a bit, but it never seemed to affect the positive energy of the session. Cara knows her way around the park, and even with the drizzle and a festival going on she was immediately able to reroute us to nice spots in the park without any pause. It was a fantastic start to a Saturday morning and I will be coming back for more.

I have no idea why hiking yoga has such rave reviews… I’m a yoga teacher and avid hiker and have been both for over 10 years, so I thought it would be a great combo but I was disappointed both ways, here’s why…
1– I was at the Torrey Pines location and the Instructor stopped us after about 5 minutes of hiking to do yoga in the middle of the path amidst rocks and dirt to do approximately 10 minutes of yoga that was more like stretching and not actual yoga poses except for a couple. I was knocked into several times by people trying to get by on the path as were everyone else from the group and it was an awful place to stop for yoga
2– We hiked pretty quickly to the bottom and did less than 10 minutes of yoga on the sandy beach. She did not allow us to take a break to enjoy the view for a single minute, she insisted right after the few yoga stretches that we hike back up without stopping and the views are incredible it was a shame!
3– After we got back to the top, which was not even close to where we started at all, she just took off without thanking us or offering to help with directions back to the parking lot she suggested. It was a good 40 minutes to the parking lot from where we ended which was longer than the actual hike.
I see potential but it needs a lot of work in my opinion.

Cara was great! I was sore the next two days after our hike! I can’t wait to do my next one! Keep the groupons coming :)

What a grand idea! Being new to San Diego, this was a great way to get to know Balboa Park and enjoy the beautiful views of the city. The hike was a lot of fun and definitely got my heart rate up. My instructor Cara was very energetic and motivated us to keep pushing hard, although allowing some time for the group to get to know each other.
I ended up doing much better than I thought I would, even in Yoga — which can be challenging for my flexibility limitations. My instructor respected our own limits and I felt very motivated. In the end, I feel like I got a great workout and am already looking forward to my next hike.
This is an amazing way to start off your week, enjoy the beautiful weather, meet new people and exercise outside. It can’t get any better than this!

No better way to start the Weekend! I thought that I had seen all with regard to Balboa Park, Nope. The instructor Cara guided us through a myriad of trails that I never knew existed. She was ultra professional and accommodating i.e., providing opportunity for seasoned practitioners to push themselves, while simultaneously making concessions for others. She facilitated an environment were we could connect with one another, and connect with nature. I feel that this setting/​arrangement maintains much greater synergy with the sustainability ideals that yogis typically subscribe to. I have historically taken issue with the studios that «green-​wash» with one hand, and turn up the thermostat to 110 degrees with the other hand… Conversely, Hiking Yoga gets it — their the real deal. See ya on the trails!

Went on my second yoga hike this past Sunday. I tried both locations and had two completely different but enjoyable experiences. The combination of vigorous hiking together with breaks for yoga made for a real workout that I am still feeling today. The hiking is relatively intense, so not for those who just want to take a leisurely stroll, and the instructors gave options for the yoga poses that made it interesting for both novices and seasoned practitioners. Thanks Lisa and Jamie!

LOVE IT!
As did many of the other reviewers, found this company via a groupon deal. I thought «hiking and yoga, my 2 favorite things! Of COURSE they should be combined!!»
The hike did not disappoint. Very friendly instructor, beautiful views, and it was divine to take 4 breaks from hiking to engage in some yoga. I have never done yoga outdoors, and I loved it. I think overall, as well, my joints were less sore from the hike because of the interspersed yoga.
Kind of the best thing ever.

Another great deal, thanks to Mr. Groupon. But even without a Groupon, Hiking Yoga has some pretty neat deals on their website. I was glad that I had the experience of doing both, the Balboa Park hike/​yoga and this one at Torrey Pines. And there are unique advantages of doing both, but the Torrey Pines hike was IMO so much better.
Comparison: There are more dirt trails at TP than at BP. So, there is less pounding on the knees during the hike itself. The views are awesome, and a lot more peaceful than at BP. There are a lot more wildlife scenery and sounds that only can be experienced at TP. It’s perfect… doing yoga and meditation while the only thing you hear are the waves rushing in the beach or some random blue jay chirping away.
Kristin was awesome. Great yoga instructor and definitely motivated and enthusiastic about her job. It’s cool that she is actually getting payed for something that she really enjoys on a daily basis. The yoga, and the hike aren’t pre-​planned or anything. Yah you meet at the Broken Hill South sign, but after that, who knows where you will be going. Kristen is open to any recommendations and if you are frequent visitor, it’s guaranteed that you will have a different experience every time.
The class size is pretty small, max is 15, so you definitely get the personal attention from the instructor. Kristin was pretty good at instructing at the level that you are comfortable with. Newbies or an expert, the attendees had varying ranges of yoga experience so everyone was on their own pace. No rush here and no pressure to do more than what your body can handle.
What a great experience… great times with outgoing and friendly people. Great way to meet people and enjoy a nice hike and a nice yoga/​meditation on a cool nature reserve. Bravo Kristin… bravo!!!

Hike to beach and yoga on the sand. Before our descent, Kristen asked us to focus on the farthest sound. I heard the waves breaking at our destination. Goes beyond the four walls of a yoga studio. Peace…

When I first saw this new addition to the San Diego yoga world featured on Groupon the other day, I talked about it so much (and how awesome I thought it sounded) that my boyfriend finally just said «if you don’t buy that thing you’re never allowed to speak of it again.» Needless to say, I made the purchase and when I went to their website to sign up I discovered that two days later I could attend an evening hike/​yoga in Balboa Park. Yes please and thank you.
I got home from said hike/​yoga approximately an hour ago and I just couldn’t wait to tell everyone about it. Unlike what I thought it wasn’t yoga then hike, or hike then yoga. It was hike for a little while, do some yoga for a little while, and so on for the next 90 minutes. The last round of yoga was extended for a longer period of time — not 7 – 10 minutes like the first few rounds, but 15 or so and it was great. The most perfect version of interval training I could possibly think of. I love interval training because you get «a break.» Well, with hiking yoga you’re doing fairly vigorous cardio (if you’re not a regular exerciser be prepared to be toward the back, you’ll be able to keep up but it will kick your rear!) and the break is yoga. In my book that’s fantastic. Seriously, I love hiking. I love yoga. Um, why didn’t I think of this myself.
Instructors were all awesome (there were a few as it was also an instructor training tonight) and everyone was super friendly. It’s like social networking-​out. Even more awesome.
If you’ve never tried yoga, but live hiking hit this up. If you love yoga but wish you could do a better job of combining it with your cardio, check this out. If you already love both but really just want to meet new people in your neighborhood, check this out (I think there’s also a Torrey Pines area option). If you’re a guy that wants to meet some women in excellent shape and/​or have a moment of partner yoga where you can feel their chi — check this out.
Love. Love. Love.