You close your eyes and feel winter’s quiet settle around you. The mountain air is crisp, clean, and full of possibility. That sense of grounded presence, of being fully in your body, is what so many of us seek when we head outside. We are fortunate to have nature at our back door, ready to steady us, inspire us, and remind us to breathe. Let’s get outside and enjoy it.
Skiing gives us this gift, yoga gives it to us, too. When the two meet, something surprisingly transformative happens. We move with more confidence, more ease, more joy… even on those days when your skis act like rebellious teenagers determined to go their own separate ways.
Most of us arrive on the mountain eager to feel graceful and fluid, only to find our legs staging a minor revolt. If you have ever dug a ski out of the snow while muttering to yourself, you are in excellent company. Skiing is not only physical. It is a wellness practice rooted in breath, posture, awareness, and alignment. What you build on the yoga mat becomes invaluable on the slopes and in everyday life.
Skiing requires strength, balance, and flexibility, qualities we naturally lose over time but regain through yoga. So we start where yoga starts, with balance: Mountain Pose.
Stand with your feet hip-width apart. When feet are too close together, gravity wins. Stability is the foundation of wellness. Feel your weight spread evenly across your feet. Many of us scrunch our toes when we are nervous, soften them. Relaxed toes create a solid platform and spare you unnecessary foot fatigue.
Now build upward. Tilt your pelvis slightly by drawing the tailbone under. This activates the seat and upper thigh muscles that support everything you do: skiing, yoga, carrying groceries, standing in long lines, keeping calm when your ski buddy insists on one more quick boot adjustment.
Next, gently engage your core. Think of a subtle inward draw, as if a tiny string connects your belly button to your spine. A strong core is not only physical. It is emotional steadiness. It is resilience. It steadies you when the terrain changes, whether on a steep slope or in a tough moment in life.
Roll your shoulder blades together and open your chest. If you spend too much time looking at screens, this will feel glorious. Good posture supports your lungs, your skiing, and your mood. You literally breathe easier when you open your chest.
Now imagine you are holding poles and balancing a tray of your favorite après snacks. Keep that tray facing downhill. When your hands drift behind you, your body follows. Hands forward aligns the body and guides your movement.
Add a soft bend to your ankles and knees. You may feel the old urge to lean forward, but resist. Leaning breaks your posture at the waist and leaves you vulnerable. Instead, stay tall. Keep your posture the same and simply orient your whole body perpendicular to the slope. This is balance and wellness in action: staying aligned even when life tilts unexpectedly.
Breath is everything. It keeps your body calm, your movements smooth, and your mind steady. When the breath flows, you flow.
Skiing requires presence. Yoga teaches how. Both ask for the same things: alignment, awareness, soft strength, and a willingness to try again after the occasional dramatic snow-hug.
The more you practice these skills, on the mat and on the mountain, the more they weave into your daily life and move with ease instead of tension. You catch yourself standing taller, breathing deeper, and meeting challenges with a steadier mind. You feel more connected to nature, to your body, and to the simple joy of moving outdoors.
Above all, enjoy every moment out there. Let winter wake up your senses. Let nature nourish you. Let movement bring you home to yourself. Wellness is not a destination. It is the way we stand, breathe, move, and live. And it all begins with balance.
Yoga for Skiers
Skiing requires strength, balance, and flexibility, qualities we naturally lose over time but regain through yoga. So we start where yoga starts, with balance: Mountain Pose.
Before each run, pause for a tiny moment of mindfulness:
• Feet relaxed, weight across the whole foot
• Pelvis tucked, core engaged
• Shoulders open
• Hands forward
• Steady breath into the abdomen
Skiing requires presence. Yoga teaches how. Both ask for the same things: alignment, awareness, soft strength, and a willingness to try again after the occasional dramatic snow-hug.