Balanced Rock Foundation

Just got back from the Nature & Nurture 4-​day back country backpacking trip… ah-​mazing!
Let me set up me and my background coming into this trip: 30/​f, single traveler, East Coast (yes its totally doable!), been to the Yosemite Valley once and fell in love, no backpacking experience but a lover of the outdoors and yoga, an occasional jogger.
This trip was 3 guides and i believe 12 people (one other single traveler) but it was like a family right away. Before the trip, I would send random questions via email to Balanced Rock and they always got back to me quickly and with wonderful personality and personal experiences.
They prepare you with your gear list, then you meet at the trail head to cover what you’ve packed (i ALWAYS over pack lol) and brief you on whats to come. We lucked out with beautiful weather. but everything else was planned to perfection by the BR team. Planned meals and snacks (I was never hungry even across miles of awesome hiking) which were almost too good to be true. And they keep you safe and want to know if you are ever having a difficult time with anything so it can be figured out. Yoga in the morning and the evening was not only beautiful, but i realized after our long hiking days, i was never ever sore… every backpacker should add yoga.
Ultimately i learned how physically and mentally tough I am, and how welcoming new people can be, and that I can totally hack it with backpacking/​camping :) I will be looking at BR 2016 schedule to do this again. You get to see a Yosemite that is a bit more hidden to the mainstream and with people who are all in it for the same reasons you are. Thank you to Dr. Breezy, Anna and JP for being awesomesauce guides, and to Balanced Rock for offering the most one of a kind experience offered up to anyone.

What a wonderful immersion it was into Yoga 101 with Heather and Paula. The day started with a great practice with El Capitan generating a force of light and power on us against the deepest blue Spring sky. Followed by lunch, a history of Yoga, pranayama,
reflections & journaling. It was an honor to be with Heather, Paula and others seeking to enrich their Yoga journeys.

I went on a writing/​yoga retreat through Balanced Rock at a wonderful retreat center outside Yosemite. Heather lead the yoga/​writing exercises/​meditations and Ruth cooked and lead a zumba class. It was a perfect retreat — tailored to the 5 of us who attended. The writing exercises were thought-​provoking and rich stimulus for internal reflection, and the time was the perfect balance of mind/​body/​spirit. The vibe was excellent; accepting and growthful. I’d definitely recommend Balanced Rock and look forward to other opportunities to check out Yosemite through their wise leadership.

I participated in the Women of Color hike to Yosemite in 2013 and it was both phenomenal and life-​affirming. It is the only program of its kind, I believe. And even if it’s not, I felt like I was doing something important and life changing just by taking part.
The leaders, Chelsea Griffe and Elizabeth Sy, were amazing and knowledgeable. Chelsea is the real deal; she’s been profiled by Sports Illustrated and was the first African-​American woman to climb El Capitan. Elizabeth is great too, she was the head chef and frankly, the care that she took with addressing everyone’s dietary needs (paleo, pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan) was nothing short of amazing. Her Paleo granola is out of this world!
At the time that I went, I’d just moved out west from New York City, so this was a great welcome to the beauty of the West and the natural world. Our group consisted of women of all ages, sizes, and aptitudes. You didn’t have to be experienced (as I wasn’t), you just needed to want to go. And Balanced Rock provided a generous scholarship so that I could go – otherwise, being a single parent, I probably wouldn’t have been able to take part. So kudos to Balanced Rock!
Anyway, we trekked over several days with very heavy backpacks. The sense of comraderie that I gained with these ladies was so special. The nights sharing by the fireside were amazing. And sleeping under the stars brought everything into perspective.
The leaders had us write ourselves a letter that we was mailed to us one year later. It’s so great to read what I thought at the time, and how clear my thinking was after several days in the wild.
In short, I can’t recommend this trip enough. It will change your life. Just do it!

I participated in a Balanced Rock retreat in 2014, and I have only positive things to say about my experience! The facilitated meditation, yoga, reflection and writing was extremely meaningful and ushered me into a new season rejuvenated and with a refreshed mindset. The food was healthy and incredibly delicious (not overly healthy, just the right balance with tons of options). I was particularly impressed with the staff/​instructors, who have wisdom and experience to offer and yet remain humble and playful. And who can complain about all of this IN YOSEMITE! What a gorgeous backdrop for a transformational experience!

The setting was beautiful, inspiring, and peaceful, the food was amazing, and the people were off the charts wonderful to spend time with! I felt nurtured and supported while I had space for my own journey. I have done a few courses with Balanced Rock and I look forward to partaking in more!

To do yoga amidst the grandeur of Yosemite National Park next to the Tuolumne River with incredibly skilled teachers is a gift. I did a camping and hiking and yoga program in the high country of Yosemite two summers ago. The food, the hiking, the group. all were superlative.

I first discovered Balanced Rock Foundation about 7 years ago (they were Wild Women Workshops back then) and attended an incredible yoga and journaling workshop in Yosemite. There were so many amazing things about the class and staff right away. My yoga teacher Eliza was so welcoming and kind. It was my first time in a yoga class and the instruction made yoga feel simple and fun. Heather Sullivan taught us awesome writing techniques that I still utilize! I joined Balanced Rock for two more retreats including snowshoeing and a stay in the redwoods of Yosemite. The food is always excellent, the staff always warm and skilled in their trade. I always left feeling like I learned so much about yoga, nature and connecting with myself. Because of the Balanced Rock instructors I was inspired to become a yoga teacher! Now it is my full-​time job. I still attend their community classes and still learn so much from all of the Balanced Rock staff.

I went on a yoga and backpacking trip in 2009 with Arin Trook and Lindsay Wilson. It was a great experience. Being able to move through the gorgeous natural setting of Yosemite while backpacking and practicing yoga was idyllic. Arin is a great guide and amazing camping chef — we ate so well! He also tailored the hiking to the level of the group, which was great. Lindsay similarly was open to feedback so her teaching was appropriate to the level of the group. I was also impressed that there are various ways to get price adjustments if needed, which is awesome. I highly recommend trips with Balanced Rock.

I’m going to start out by being honest and saying that I now work for Balanced Rock… but I went on a Balanced Rock 5-​day backpacking trip before I worked for the organization and I LOVED it. I was impressed with the quality of the program and how it allowed me to connect with myself on a deeper level because of activities like the «solo» time. My instructors were Lindsey Wilson and Arin Trook. I loved Lindsey’s Anusara yoga and Arin was a true Wilderness master. He cooked all meals and they were incredibly good as well as provided all of the backpacking and leave-​no-​trace information. The hiking was very easy for me, but I live in the Yosemite area so that might be expected. I also love the free Balanced Rock yoga classes during the week. Plus, I know I am biased here, but Yosemite is so gorgeous, it’s hard to have a bad time.

I have participated in the yoga classes sponsored by the Balanced Rock Foundation. They were my first introduction to yoga and the instructors were terrific. I know that they have branched out into hiking and outdoors trips, but I haven’t been able to participate in one of those yet, although it sounds great if I ever have a spare 2 weeks.
They offer a lot of low-​cost options, the yoga classes were no-​cost at the time I was taking them, which is a great idea for such a touristy, normally expensive venue like Yosemite.
My favorite people/​instructors at the Foundation that I can definitely recommend as wonderful and enthusiastic are:
Anna Landauer
Chelsea Griffie
Jen Bowen-​Meno
Heather Sullivan
Schuyler Greenleaf
(Not that others aren’t; I just don’t know.)
My only slight complaint is that I think there is too much emphasis on pantheistic philosophies («om»). I am not pantheistic, and was slightly uncomfortable at moments because I couldn’t fully participate in that specific type of chanting or meditation, but the instruction itself is top-​notch. They just need to be willing to accommodate all spiritualities and religions.