Nature + Nurture: Yosemite Yoga & Wellness Trek with Brieann Powell Roberts C.M.T., L.E., and Heather Sullivan

4-day backpack retreat. Rejuvenate, restore and return to balance. Explore backpacking, yoga, meditation, and inspired mountain living with professional health care practitioners on this nurturing journey through Yosemite’s magical landscape. 

Heather is co-founder of Balanced Rock, a Shiatsu massage practitioner, beekeeper, yoga instructor and backcountry guide. Brieann is the owner of Metta (loving-kindness) wellness center in Mariposa,  a Certified Massage Therapist and Licensed  Esthetician.

On this course, we will focus on rejuvenating ourselves and learning body work techniques for balanced living.

 

Itinerary

Thursday
We will gather at our campground at 2:00 p.m. Our first day will be full of activity and excitement, including introductions and an orientation to the course. The afternoon will be spent getting acquainted with each other and our surroundings as we prepare for our backpacking adventure. We will organize and review gear and food, learn about the basics of packing for backcountry travel, and conclude the evening by sharing the preparation of a delicious camp meal. After dinner, there will be time for storytelling and stargazing as we settle in for our first night in the mountains.

Friday
If you wish, you can rise early to greet the sun with a short walk and morning meditation before our first yoga session. After a nourishing breakfast we will pack our backpacks and depart for the trailhead where we will begin our Yosemite wilderness adventure. We will hike at a moderate pace to our base camp at Young Lakes in the High Sierra. Our lunch break will include free time for sharing stories, journaling, and soaking in the surrounding peace. After setting up camp, we will have another yoga session as well as sharing core practices of self care and wellness. We'll enjoy a delicious dinner after yoga as the Range of Light, bathed in alpenglow, lives up to its reputation. Evenings may include fireside stories, music or gazing at the Milky Way from the cozy comfort of your sleeping bag.

Saturday
The next day follows a similar schedule as we adapt to the natural rhythms of the planet, and flow with the specific needs and desires of the group. After our morning yoga session and breakfast, we will settle into our new home among granite domes and peaceful lake waters. In addition to the adventure of backpacking, each day provides opportunities for swimming in alpine lakes, day hikes to sweeping views of the High Sierra, or perhaps relaxing in our backcountry "hammock lounge". Evenings are set aside for dharma talks, wilderness education, creative journaling, music-making, or quiet contemplation around the campfire.

Sunday
Our last morning, we will enjoy a final yoga class and meditation before enjoying our last breakfast in the field. Then we will pack our backpacks and begin our hike back to the trailhead.

After putting closure on our journey together, we will conclude by 2 p.m.

 Note on Itinerary:

This schedule is an outline. It is subject to change depending on the needs of the group and allowing for spontaneous inspiration. This program operates rain or shine.

 

Price Includes:

Professional instruction and guiding, campground fees, Wilderness permit fees, first-aid supplies, and group gear for backpacking and camping. Balanced Rock provides delicious and high-quality meals, cooking gear, and water purification supplies.

Not Included:

Transportation to and from your hometown to Yosemite, park entrance fees, and personal items.

 

Travel:

The driving time to Yosemite from the Bay Area is 3.5-4 hours and varies depending on traffic and road conditions. For California highway conditions visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/ or call 1-800-427-7623. For the latest road conditions and advisories in the park, call 1-209-372-0200 then press 1. You are required to carry and be prepared to use tire chains.

Important Information about Air Travel:

Prior to purchasing your airline tickets or lodging, contact Balanced Rock to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required. info@balancedrock.org or 209-379-9453.

Closest Airports:

- Fresno (FAT): 130 miles; about 3 hours to Tioga Road
- Modesto (MOD): 111 miles; about 2 hrs, 15 minutes to Tioga Road
- San Francisco (SFO): 197 miles; 3 hrs, 45 minutes to Tioga Road (public transportation available)
- Oakland (OAK): 178 miles; 3 hrs, 30 minutes to Tioga Road (public transportation available)
- Sacramento (SAC): 187 miles; 3 hrs, 30 minutes to Tioga Road
- Reno-Tahoe International airport (RNO): 174 miles; 3 hrs, 30 minutes to Tioga Road
- Mammoth-Yosemite airport (MMH): 1 flight in and out of LAX daily; 61 miles; 1 hr, 15 minutes to Tioga Rd

Public Transportation and Carpooling:

There is excellent train and bus transportation to the Tioga Road and Yosemite Valley from the bay area via BART train, Amtrak to Merced, YARTS bus to El Portal and Yosemite Valley, and to
Tioga Road via the Tuolumne Meadows shuttle bus. For information on public transportation options please visit: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/publictransportation.htm. Once you are enrolled we will send you detailed pre-trip information including options for carpooling. Carpools are generally set up in the two weeks prior to the trip start date and dependent on participant locations.

Accommodations:

Our first night will be at a campground near the trailhead. The following nights will be spent in the backcountry. All four nights, we will be sleeping in tents or under the stars. We will be camping next to gorgeous high alpine lakes for most of the trip.

 

Qualifications:

This retreat is appropriate for all levels of yoga and outdoor experience. There is always a level of challenge to any backpacking trip, but this journey is along a very accessible route and is appropriate for all levels of backpacking and yoga skill. This trip requires the ability to hike and carry a pack at altitudes ranging from 6,000 to 9,000 feet, over varying mountain terrain. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip, we suggest that you engage in a regular exercise routine prior to the course. We also recommend that you stay well-hydrated prior to departure to assist in adjusting to altitude. Please see notes in the welcome letter for further information on preparing for our adventure.

Weather:

Daytime temperatures can range between 50°-90° F. Mountain weather can change quickly. It is common to have clear sunny mornings with building clouds and afternoon showers followed by clear starry skies at night. Please check the forecast frequently before your course and plan accordingly. Visit the Yosemite National Park "Plan Your Visit" site for detailed information and weather-related links. http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hours.htm

General Information:

Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. Detailed pre-trip information, including directions to the meeting place, will be sent when you enroll.