As proud and experienced outfitters, Upper Missouri River Guides always strives to offer multi-day Missouri River canoe trips that go above and beyond what anyone would expect.
Here is a perfectly wonderful and desirable morning on the banks of the Upper Missouri River: cold water on the face, fresh cup of high-quality coffee, fresh-cut fruit and a chair by the water. You enjoy the steaming cup of life juice (as I like to call it) while watching the glistening morning sun hit the White Cliffs and breathing deep as you hear the birds flutter around you.
What a dream.
NOW, after savoring that first cup, imagine your guide invites you to join 20-30 minutes of stretching and a mellow, simple yoga flow to get the blood flowing? YES, YOGA on the banks of a river = Perfect morning to the power of 4.
Never tried yoga? No problem. This outdoor studio is crafted to include zero judgement. It’s simply a chance to work out some body kinks, move to energize blood flow and inspire deep breathing.
No yoga mat? No problem. We will spread out a large tarp, and we improvise by deflating our thermarest mattresses to use as makeshift mats. Pro tip: if space allows (and canoes do), pack a thin, lightweight yoga mat. Picture this sleep set-up: yoga mat on bottom, inflatable mattress, sheet, sleeping bag. The sheet is a nice, ‘from home’ comfort and, when it’s hot and the sleeping bag way to sweltering, use the sheet, well, as a sheet and the sleeping bag as a blanket. The yoga mat prevents sliding around of the mattress and doubles as a yoga mat when you want to do yoga on the river :-) (Does a smiley face count as punctuation of a sentence?)
Image courtesy of Marcus Strange, host of In Strange Company Podcast. Yoga instruction by the talented guide and yoga & fitness instructor, Kaitlin Kaiser of NamaStay Fit.
“It has been a desire for both of us to do this trip and it turned out to be more than we expected. To do the canoeing in wilderness area and to follow Lewis and Clark was fulfilling, but to add the extensive and exciting hikes was a bonus. This was my “WOW” part! I was in awe for the solitude of nature. We could sit around the campsite all evening and maybe only once have a slight intrusion. (ex “Did I just hear a plane?”)
And I want to thank you for the yoga. Not only did I need and benefit from it but I really got excited thinking that I did yoga in such a spectacular surrounding. How great is that?! And how great is it that we got the yoga instructor along with the guide!! I felt a special connection to you for that experience! Thanks!”
Adventuring and having a ton of fun in the wilderness with Mother Nature can be hard - taxing on the muscles and energy levels. Unless you are consistently paddling or rowing, hiking and camping a.k.a. not sleeping in your own bed in your everyday life, you are bound to feel a few aches and pains. We find the most challenging part of a multi-day canoe trip is sitting in the canoe for long periods of time. Seats with backrests can only do so much. Simply put, it’s like sitting in a office chair working - you just have to get up and stretch often. We also stand by our 2.5-3 day rule - that is, it takes 2.5-3 days to ‘get into the river groove,’ which includes the physical demands as well as molding and solidifying the group dynamic. A bit of stretching, moving and breathing can work wonders for the above, albeit welcomed, afflictions.
Image courtesy of the incredibly talented Kristy of Moodeus Photography
An enthusiastic gentleman named Bob was on a September trip last year (2018). We offered a 30 minute yoga and stretching session on the morning of day 3 of a 7 day trip. Now, Bob is the type of guy who is incredibly athletic and generally excels at everything he does. He was wary at first because he was completely new to yoga, and didn’t want to be, well, new. He confessed his daughter had been trying to convince him of the benefits for years because he is an avid runner. “Well,” Bob said, “this is as good as time as any - let’s give it a go!” What do you know, Bob, loved it. He even insisted we take 15 minutes on top of an amazing overlook above the river and ‘try some poses.’ He reported after returning home that he finally mustered the courage to go to a class. How’s that for inspiring?
When an activity draws you towards the edge of your comfort zone, introduces something completely new or, simply, offers the same activity in a different setting there is an unique and boundless opportunity for discovering a new passion, or, in the very least, being super proud of yourself for trying.
So, join us on the river for an unforgettable experience in nature - a powerful river offers the most spectacular and serene setting for new exploration, both of the physical surroundings, and for a peaceful and inspiring inward practice.
“Yoga is not about touching your toes... it’s about what you learn on the way down.”
