"Yoga class is a gathering place for all sorts of people. In the studio, niche interests are exchanged for conformity and collective attention to breath and postures-at least on the surface. But a closer look reveals that your go-to hobby influences how you show up on the mat. Sure, it's best to keep your focus on your own practice. But what if we were to observe how certain active-minded subcultures approach yoga, nature documentary style?"
"Take the backpacker, for example. They may be moving through a Sun Salutation, but their mind is likely on the sunrise they'll witness during their next out-and-back. We spoke to Backpacker editor Emma Veidt for some insight into the mind of a hiker-slash-yogi. 15 Thoughts a Backpacker Has in Yoga Class 1. Do these props come in ultralight? 2. Are my hips supposed to pop in Triangle Pose? 3. Tiny muscles I didn't even know I had are sore from my heavy pack."
Yoga classes gather diverse people whose off-mat hobbies influence in-class attention and interpretation of poses. Backpackers notice gear practicality, ultralight alternatives, and physical effects from heavy packs, like sore small muscles and missing toenails. Breathwork and box breathing translate into altitude or endurance strategies. Preferences for cool conditions make hot yoga unappealing to early-morning hikers. Props and straps are evaluated as potential camping luxuries. Peak-oriented thinking reframes poses as summits to bag, trail names invite playful yogi nicknames, and branded apparel reads as likely sponsorship among outdoor-focused participants.
Read at Yoga Journal
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