Do you like walking? Do you like yoga? If you answer yes to both of these questions, we have one more for you: have you ever considered combining the two? It may seem an unlikely combination, but walking yoga is shaping up to be one of 2025’s must-know fitness trends.
Searches for ‘walking yoga’ on Google have been skyrocketing so far this year. But why all the interest and what exactly does it involve? After all, it’s not immediately obvious how to pair the two.
Walking is very much on the cardio side of the street, whether you’re taking it easy or turning it into a tougher workout. Although certain types of yoga can give you a cardio workout – hello, vinyasa – overall the physical side of the practice is more about strength and flexibility.
We’re diving into what the walking yoga trend actually means and whether it’s worth your time.
What is walking yoga?
In its simplest form, walking yoga is when you apply certain yoga principles and practices to the act of taking a walk. Specifically, using breathwork to stay in the present moment, keep calm and maintain your focus.
It’s a mindful, almost meditative approach to walking, combining physical exercise with mental grounding. You can go for a yoga walk outdoors or indoors on a treadmill.
The idea is to boost your endorphins through exercise at the same time as tending to your emotional wellbeing by focusing on the present.
Want to take it to the next level? Add some yoga poses to your walk – stepping into warrior one, for example, or pausing for tree pose. Find stillness in mountain pose or stretch out in a standing forward fold.
Just be careful with your footing if you’re doing yoga poses while walking outdoors. It’s probably best avoided if you’re on a treadmill unless you have excellent balance – a tumble from the treadmill will be more mood-ruining than mood-boosting.
What are the benefits of walking yoga?
Walking yoga means you can combine all the benefits of walking with the benefits of taking time to practise mindfulness, such as:
- Reducing stress – studies show that mindfulness meditation can be highly effective at lowering stress levels.
- Easing anxiety – mindfulness can help to reduce feelings of anxiety, according to research.
- Understanding your emotions and coping with difficult thoughts, according to the Mental Health Foundation.
Walking yoga also a good option if you’re looking for the emotional benefits of meditation and mindfulness but you find it difficult to keep still. In that case, you should also explore dance meditation as way to clear your mind while getting a workout.
What do you need for walking yoga?
If you’ve never tried yoga before, or are a relative beginner, it’s worth doing a few classes, either in person or online. That way, you can be confident that you understand the breathing and mindfulness elements, as well as mastering some simple poses, if you’ve decided you want to add these.
Other than that, all you need are an open space or treadmill, comfortable clothing and footwear, and an open mind.
Walking yoga may sound like a solitary activity, but it doesn’t have to be. Invite like-minded friends or family to join you, so you can combine exercise, wellbeing work and some social time. Now that’s multi-tasking!
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