Walking 25 Kilometers, a Birthday, and the Unexpected Power of Standing Tall
- Ludmila Parekh
- May 13
- 3 min read
On May 4th, I did something I hadn’t exactly prepared for: I walked 25 kilometers during the Great Breweries Walk here in Belgium - a beautiful, sweaty, joyful way to celebrate my husband’s birthday in the most grounded (and physically demanding!) way possible.
As we moved through fields, passed through villages, stumbled across horses and drum beats, paused for Belgian beers, and kept walking—step by step, through sun and sweat, wind and clouds, music, talk, and silence - around kilometer 18, when my legs were heavy but steady, something suddenly hit me:
I’m here thanks to the practice.
Practicing standing yoga poses with my Yoga for Everyone community was exactly what helped me reach the finish line. And no—I didn’t train for the walk on purpose.
But as each step landed, I felt the subtle strength in my legs, the awareness in my feet, and the clarity in my breath. It was like my body had been preparing all along.
Throughout April, I’ve been exploring the theme Standing Poses-Empowering in my Yoga for Everyone sessions, without knowing I’d be putting them to the test so soon. But that’s how practice works sometimes. It prepares us quietly, beneath the surface, and then shows up exactly when we need it.
The Standing Poses: Empowering sessions I’ve been guiding weren’t just about form. They’re the foundations of mobility, stability, and presence. They were about trusting your body and remembering how to stand in your truth-on and off the mat.
In yoga, standing postures like Vrksasana (Tree Pose), Virabhadrasana (Warrior), and Tadasana (Mountain Pose) are more than just shapes.
They teach us balance, strength, coordination, and proprioception—how we relate to space and gravity.
They strengthen our lower limbs, stabilize the spine, and bring awareness to our vertical axis: our human posture.
They support recovery, resilience, and self-confidence—because standing upright in a world that pulls us in every direction is no small thing.
They anchor us in the now and invite us to take up space—something we often forget is our right.
Why standing poses matter (and helped me walk 25K):
They strengthen the feet, ankles, legs, and hips—the architecture of movement.
They improve posture and teach us how to carry ourselves with confidence.
They train balance, awareness, and mental focus-just like during a long walk.
They awaken the posterior muscles that keep us upright (and evolved from crawling to walking).
They remind us to stand tall in our lives, not just on our mats.
I'm grateful for this practice that quietly supported me without me even realizing it.
Walking long distances, it turns out, is deeply connected to that. Each step calls on the same muscle memory, the same alignment, the same quiet determination we build during standing practice. What I realized on the trail was that I hadn’t trained for the walk-but the walk had already been part of my training.
The body remembers
Whether you’ve been coming to class or following along from afar, I hope you’ve felt some of this grounding in your own life. Maybe you’ve noticed more stability as you walk to work, a sense of dignity in how you stand in a queue, or just a little more presence when your feet meet the floor in the morning.
These standing poses? They’re not just physical. They’re an invitation:
To take up space
To come back to yourself
To move forward, one strong, rooted step at a time.
And I’m so thankful to have walked alongside my husband that day-and to walk alongside my community too—on the mat and out in the world.
Whether you're walking 25K, navigating daily life, or simply learning to stand in your truth, these poses offer a powerful reminder:
You are stronger than you think.
With grounded feet and a full heart,
Ludmila
Comments