Be Our Village

Hike to Yoga was born from a simple desire: to share a park, a path, and a practice with friends and neighbors.

I’m the founder and executive director of Hike to Yoga, a community-rooted movement that brings people together through mindful hiking, nature connection, yoga therapy–inspired movement, and circle-based community care. What began in 2019 as informal hikes in a local Los Angeles park has grown into a living, breathing ecosystem of healing experiences—serving people across ages, backgrounds, and life transitions.

As a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and E-RYT 500, my work sits at the intersection of physical movement, mental health, ancestral wisdom, and environmental care. I believe deeply that the body holds stories, that nature is one of our most accessible healers, and that community is not optional—it’s a biological need.

When the pandemic arrived in 2020, the need for collective healing became undeniable. Hike to Yoga expanded organically as people sought grounding, connection, and a place to breathe together. By 2021, we were piloting our first Hike Leader trainings, including programs led by and for people who were formerly incarcerated and youth in foster care. These early experiences shaped our values: access over aesthetics, presence over performance, and healing that ripples outward into families, neighborhoods, and ecosystems.

Hike to Yoga is rooted in the belief that rest is rebellion, self-care is a form of peace work, and we go farther together. Our signature monthly Mini Urban Retreats invite participants to slow down, move mindfully, and remember what it feels like to belong—to themselves, to the land, and to one another. Each gathering blends a mindful hike, our Yoga Wave practice (inspired by how birds move together), and unstructured time for reflection and connection.

We intentionally welcome people navigating reintegration and transition—formerly incarcerated individuals, survivors of violence, foster and at-risk youth, veterans, and those experiencing burnout or overwhelm—alongside community members who are resourced and ready to give back. Our sliding-scale model is designed to reduce barriers while cultivating shared responsibility.

Looking ahead, Hike to Yoga is evolving into something even bigger: a training ground for Peace Warriors in Nature. Future offerings include continuing education for yoga teachers, a 200- and 300-hour Yoga Alliance–certified teacher training rooted in nature and social impact, and a long-term pathway toward yoga therapy certification. We are also building paid leadership opportunities so participants can grow into facilitators, Hike Leaders, and mentors—promoting leadership from within and creating meaningful work tied to care for people and the planet.

Our vision is bold and grounded: Peace Warrior Hubs in every city with a green space. Monthly gatherings led by trained facilitators. Partnerships with parks, nonprofits, schools, and re-entry organizations. A nationwide movement that treats human diversity like biodiversity—something to be protected, celebrated, and tended with care.

If you’re here, you’re already part of the story.

Scroll down to learn more about our programs, trainings, or see our Team page to learn how to get involved as a volunteer, donor, or partner. Come walk with us. Come remember what it feels like to be human—together, outside, one step at a time.

-Laurie Hang, Founder