Park Record covers PCYA

Marketplace: say goodbye to stuffy studios
Yoga instructor holds sessions in mountain settings
Andrew Kirk, OF THE RECORD STAFF
Posted: 07/16/2010 03:46:03 PM MDT

People who come to Park City love the mountains and many love yoga. Local fitness guide Julia Geisler got the idea to combine the two for a truly unique vacation experience.
The idea came when she began moving her personal yoga practice outside after leading hiking and rock climbing tours for White Pine Touring.

Playing in the mountains is so energizing and yoga is so relaxing Geisler always felt the two activities complemented one another.

This month Geisler is launching Park City Yoga Adventures and At Your Door Yoga. Instead of practicing in a stuffy studio, she leads sessions in the mountains or in your own home.

Park City Yoga Adventures leads guests on a two-hour hike, rock climbing expedition or snowshoe trip in the mountains followed by a one hour session of yoga.

Her favorite place for the third hour is the Rose Sachs Garden but she's also scoped out several appropriately flat meadows and rock outcroppings for memorable yoga sessions.

"They complement each other really well," she said. "Climbing, for example, is about balance and flexibility. That's also important in yoga."

One of the essential elements of yoga is awakening the senses to one's environment. When the class is surrounded by rustling trees, burbling brooks and warm sunshine, there's a lot to be awakened by. As a result, you feel more alive, Geisler said.

Another element of the exercise is connecting breath with movement, being in tune with your body, and achieving peace by quieting your


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mind. That feels so good after exerting yourself hiking or climbing, she explained.
"You'll feel completely relaxed and rejuvenated," she said.

Whether she leads someone on a tour or meets them at their house for yoga, Geisler said it's important to her to teach them at their own level.

Anyone who can walk can do yoga, she said, but the experience does need to be tailored to an individual's needs. Geisler has no problem taking beginners or even groups with mixed skill levels. Anyone age six or above can participate in rock climbing and she often takes entire families with diverse levels of experience.

Park City Yoga Adventures creates customized experiences, she said. At Your Door Yoga can be done anywhere a mat will fit. It is for individuals, small and large groups, corporate retreats and even offices, she said.

Sessions can be booked online at parkcityyogaadventures.com.

Tom Stephens and his wife have utilized At Your Door Yoga for over a year. He said Geisler does an excellent job adapting the workout to their needs sometimes having them do differing activities during the same session together.

"It gives me the core strength and flexibility I need to golf in summer and ski in winter," he said. "It's very convenient and focused on exactly what I need. She's an outstanding yoga teacher and has all the attributes of a good coach or personal trainer knowing when to push and when to ease up."

Stephens said she gives them exactly the kind of workout they need for that day in a pleasant and personable way.

Park City Yoga Adventures

Julia Geisler

415-695-4502

Parkcityyogaadventures.com