During safer times, local Guelph group combines yoga and hiking

It was osteoarthritis that stopped Rhonda McMahon from running, a thyroid cancer diagnosis that reignited her love of yoga and a unique idea that helped her start a business.

Stride and Stretch is an outdoor adventure group for people passionate about hiking and yoga. They meet twice a week at the Covered Bridge on the Eramosa river trail to hike throughout the city while incorporating various yoga poses.

“It’s turned into quite a big social group,” said McMahon. “We have wonderful fun.”

The group is currently on hold for physical distancing restrictions.

Back in 2004, McMahon was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and was confined to her home for 10 weeks in preparation for surgery. 

“I revisited yoga then and it gave me something to do every day. It helped me to stay mindful and grounded,” she said. 

Upon her recovery, McMahon signed up for yoga teacher training at the Kripalu School of Yoga in Massachusetts. She has since completed other courses in yin yoga, yoga for trauma and for runners. She also ran workshops for runners before osteoarthritis in her feet prevented her from doing her favourite form of exercise. 

“I had such a social group when I was a runner,” she said. “I could still walk and I went out with a couple of the hiking groups in the community but it just wasn't the right fit for me.” 

Not one to sit idle, McMahon set up a Meetup group to interact with other hikers and her network quickly evolved into an enthusiastic group of regular hikers that also loved yoga.

Stride and Stretch mainly caters to people over 40 who don’t like the gym, though people of all ages and fitness levels are welcome to participate. They hike local trails including Preservation Park, Guelph Lake, Silvercreek and York Road and on weekends they venture out to Starkey Hill, Fletcher Creek, Rockwood, and other areas along the Bruce Trail.

“You’re using a lot of movement when hiking, so those muscles should get the stretching and the strengthening that they need,” she said, explaining that they incorporate props like picnic tables, rocks and boulders for various standing poses and stretches. McMahon also has a home yoga studio and runs weekly classes.

“When I’m in my studio we do more poses on the mat, so the whole thing has evolved into my own style of yoga.”

The group is no longer meeting in person in accordance with physical distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. But McMahon continues to lead daily yoga classes online and is even organizing a digital yoga hike for those that crave social interactions and moderate exercise.

“We'll chat, we'll eat trail snacks, talk about hikes that we've been on, and then I'm going to take them through outdoor yoga, virtually,” she said. 

As a business owner and fitness trainer, McMahon believes she needs to set an example for the community by discouraging anyone from going out for long hikes or walks where physical distancing cannot be maintained. 

“We need to get exercise but I think we can do it safely in our backyard, on our balcony, in virtual classes,” she said. “Let’s be safe, be healthy and connect virtually as much as we can.”

To learn more about Stride and Stretch and to sign up for a virtual class, visit their website.