“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”
Henry David Thoreau, “Walden”
Growing up, Toby Gray always wanted to be “that guy.” The one who seemed to know what he was looking at while on open-air walks, the seer who could identify trees and plants, who knew “you can eat this and you can’t eat that.” Gray is that guy now, and he was asked to share some of his knowledge at a “Hike and Yoga” event at the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge Aug. 28.
The morning in the great outdoors was organized by Firefly Yoga of Starkville. All those interested were invited to meet at the Refuge Visitor Center in Oktibbeha County at 9 a.m. for a walk, guided by Gray, along the user-friendly Dr. Ray Watson Memorial Trail. A community yoga class led by Cheryl Chambers followed. Many brought their lunches and picnicked together at the Refuge afterward.
The natural world and yoga can each inspire mindfulness, discovery, tranquility. Combining the two at the Refuge was the idea of Kate Fabel, manager of Firefly Yoga. “Connecting yoga and nature, I thought it would be awesome,” said Fabel, who was pleasantly surprised to have about 35 to 40 people take part in each phase. Some came for the communal walk, some came for yoga. Some, including Gray, did both.
Gray has long been interested in natural systems and how humans and nature interact on the land. The research associate for the Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative is also a member of the Friends of the Noxubee Refuge. His research in geospatial technology or geographic information systems assists with regional scale conservation design.
His goal Aug. 28, however, was to simply help participants feel comfortable in the woods and to point out interesting flora.
“We enjoyed the walk very much,” enthused Megan Bean, who turned the morning into a family affair that included her husband, daughter and son. They are Refuge regulars.
“And outdoor yoga is another experience altogether,” Bean said. “It’s one of the most amazing things.” A dragonfly curious about yoga even elicited a giggle or two from the Mississippi State University photographer.
“This green dragonfly kept flying around me; he went right through my Downward-facing Dog,” she smiled, referring to a yoga position. “He was a very brave dragonfly.”
The wide consensus is that the day was a solid success. The hike, Fabel said, yielded “awesome spiderwebs and beautiful mushrooms that looked like carnations.”
During yoga, “We could hear the birds singing in the distance, hear the insects buzzing and see the eagles,” she continued. “We could lie down on a mat and see beautiful clouds changing in the sky. … It was very organic. People loved it.”
Next outing
The next “Hike and Yoga” event is planned for Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Refuge. Participants will again meet at 9 a.m. for a walk, followed by community yoga. A suggested donation of $5 per person (the price of a daily pass at the Refuge) is asked; monies go to the Refuge. Everyone is invited to bring lunch for a picnic afterward. For more information, email [email protected] or leave a message at 662-268-8166.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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