Hike and Yoga – The Perfect “Sesh & Wander” combo

An outdoor activity can turn into a wander, even if it’s just within your city. Los Angeles is one of those rare places where you can surf, hike, and even ski—all in one day. Recently, I discovered my new favorite combination for both body and soul: hiking and yoga.

As most of us who are on socials, I found an Insta account called Way Out Wild (I’ll call the group WOW for short). Their motto caught my eye—an outdoor adventure group empowering women to thrive outside. What drew me most was their “women educating women” approach. It’s encouraging for someone like me who always opts for glamping…and with that statement, it should indicate to you that I’ve never camped or backpacked in my life. However, I’m always up for a leisurely hike to chase views or vantage points that I don’t often see.

It’s been a while since I last hiked. I figured, after a few months of recovering and not huffing and puffing as much when climbing a flight of stairs, I decided to sign up for WOW’s Sunset Hike and Yoga, a collaboration with a local yoga studio Roam LA.

The meetup point: Griffith Park. According to the city’s website, Griffith Park is one of the largest municipal parks with urban wilderness areas in the United States. From museums, concert venues, the Observatory (or as my nephews used to call it, Optimus Prime’s house), to the Hollywood sign, Griffith Park has something for everyone. Given the vastness of the park, the organizer also gave the coordinates of our meeting point just for good measure.

We started our hike at Fern Canyon Trail and made our way up to the helipad or the Vista View Point. If you’re curious, here’s a link to the map of all the trails you can hike in Griffith Park.

💪 The first 30 minutes? Pretty steep! But the group’s supportive vibe made it manageable. We took short breaks, and I appreciated that the guides were mindful of everyone’s pace. From our meeting point to the Vista Point, it took us under an hour, with a 5-minute rest to wait for the latecomers. That was one of my worries about going on a hike with seasoned hikers. I’m thankful that the group was mindful of everyone’s capabilities.

Once we got to the helipad, the view did not disappoint. And this was our view during our one-hour yoga practice.

Our yoga session took place right at the helipad, overlooking Downtown Los Angeles, bathed in sunset hues.

Jiro from Roam LA led the yoga practice. I like how he incorporated the scenery into the practice and ended with us participants partnering with another hiker/yogi.

It didn’t take us long to make our way back to our starting point, approximately 35 minutes, and there was a little bit of sunshine left to guide us back to our cars.

Overall, my first experience with WOW and Roam LA was wonderful. It encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone and reacclimate myself with what I used to do often, which is hiking. Hiking has always been part of my “wander” side, but combining it with yoga made it feel new again.

I’m sure by now you get the gist as to why this was my perfect sesh and wander combo. Not only was the hike a workout, but it also made me explore a different side of Griffith Park that I’ve never been to. And to top it off, I got an extra yoga practice with nature.

• Communicate with your guide. Don’t be shy to share with the hiking guide your worries or possible limitations. Our guide shared some breathing exercises, which I used during the steep part of the hike. Her box breathing exercises definitely helped.
• Prep your body. Try to get your body prepped before your first hike. I made sure to hydrate and use KT tape to support my knee and IT band.
• Wear proper hiking shoes; I went for my oldie but goodie Salomon shoes. Use hiking shoes even if the hike is not strenuous. Better safe than sorry.
• Respect nature. Be mindful and aware that you’re still with nature. We saw a small snake crossing the concrete path on our way to the helipad.
• Bring the right yoga mat for you. Travel yoga mats are great for these kinds of excursions. However, I used my thick, padded mat to protect my knees. Use what best suits you.
• Pack your essentials. My go-tos: water, sunscreen, lip balm with SPF, a hat, a light jacket, and a towel.

Since WOW offers beginner hiking group trails in September, I plan to join one of them. I originally booked a hike with them back in May. The rare times it rains in LA, and it happened the weekend of the hike. For safety reasons, the group had to cancel the hike. Now, I’m eagerly looking forward to it.

Combining yoga and hiking let me reconnect with nature while staying active. It was a mindful adventure—equal parts sweat and serenity.

If you’ve been meaning to explore your city while moving your body, I highly recommend trying this combo. You might just find your own perfect “sesh and wander” moment.

I hope this rambling inspires you to wander around your city and exercise while doing so.

Happy sesshing and wandering, friends!

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