A bitterly cold north wind blowing through Winnipeg on Sunday made already frigid temperatures feel even colder, but the weather couldn’t keep one group of Winnipegers from their weekly outdoor fun.
Gwendolyn Penner began hosting Yoga Hikes as way to encourage people to embrace the winter weather.
Several weeks into the outdoor adventure, she has developed a group of loyal participants.
"They seem to like coming every week, the few that have come regularly, and that's kind of fun because it's that community thing, knowing the other people are going to be there,” said Penner.
As the group set out at Kidonan Park on Sunday, the air temperature was -21 C and the wind chill made it feel like -32 C.
Participants walk through the park and pick a spot to do a few yoga poses, and then continue on to another location and do it again.
Penner’s mother, Katherine, was one of nine people in attendance this week.
She said she gets some surprised reactions when she tells people about her new favourite winter activity. "Well, they kind of look at me like, ok, this is a crazy old lady” she said.
Kirsten Albo has had similar comments. "Are you crazy?! What are you thinking?" she said, when asked what people think about winter Yoga Hikes.
But the women say Winnipeg has an abundance of beautiful outdoor spaces that don’t get properly utilized when it’s cold, something they think is a shame.
"You know what? There comes a point in time when all you're going to do is stay inside, so you have to be brave,” said Albo. “Bundle up with your 12 layers and get out and go do something."
Penner says she will keep hosting Yoga Hikes every Sunday as long as people are interested in joining her.
