Return to Balance: Yosemite Yoga and Ayurveda Trek with Sarah Goddard and Heather Sullivan

5-day backpack retreat. Exhausted, burned out, can’t keep up with the ever increasing pace of life?  Most of us have learned to live a very un-natural life, and our bodies and minds are paying the price.  Time to reconnect with your self, your natural rhythms, and your inherent healing potential.   Connecting to wisdom of nature both inside and out, we are gently guided back to balance and vibrancy.

Care for yourself while exploring yoga practice, Ayurvedic wellness and holistic health in the awe-inspiring High Sierra backcountry with Sarah Goddard, program manager, yoga teacher and long-time resident at the renowned Himalayan Institute.

Using the Yosemite Back Country as our guide and teacher, this course will incorporate the tools of yoga, breathing, relaxation, meditation, ayurveda, and self-study to explore our inner nature. We will come to understand why we are out of balance, and leave with tools to re-establish balance and nourishment in our lives.

Just being out in nature takes transformation and personal empowerment to a new level. Our focus will be more on experiencing Yosemite and exploring yoga, Ayurveda, and personal practice rather than on covering large distances.

Highlights:

Explore your "inner nature":

• Daily yoga, pranayama, and meditation practices that bring awareness to  natures elements (earth, water, fire, air, space) and natures rhythms in you
• Discussion and assessment of your ayurvedic constitution (your inherent nature), likely causes of imbalance, and lifestyle modifications to re-establish balance
• Understand the inner dynamics of nourishment and cleansing that support your vibrancy (physical, energetic, emotional, and spiritual)
• Explore your “outer nature”:   Discover your Yosemite Back Country surroundings and learn to see nature as a teacher
• Experience a daily routine and self-care practices that you can take home with you
• Fresh meals including local and organic ingredients

 

Itinerary

Wednesday –August 24th
We will gather at Porcupine Flat 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.

Thursday – August 25th  
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 first campsite along the granite slabs of Raisin Lake, under the majestic Mount Hoffman. Along the way, we have ample time to enjoy wildflowers, rock, and flowing water on our route. 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.

Friday – August 26th
The next day follows a similar schedule as we adapt to the natural rhythms of the world around us and flow with the specific needs and desires of the group. After our morning yoga session and breakfast, we continue our travels to Polly Dome Lakes, settling 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, short peak climbs 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.

Saturday – August 27th  

With a layover day, we are able to relax and enjoy our time along Polly Dome Lakes without having to pack and travel. We will enjoy deeper yoga sessions, time to enjoy the lake waters, and an afternoon solo experience of contemplation, washed in the beauty of the Yosemite wilderness.

Sunday— August 28th

Our last morning, we will enjoy a final yoga class and closing ceremony 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 and 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 ($20 per car to enter Yosemite National Park, good for 7 days), 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 contact Balanced Rock to confirm that the trip is not already full. 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 three nights will be 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:

Appropriate and open to all levels of backpackers and yoga practitioners. 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.

We look forward to creating a special experience that you'll never forget! Why wait?