Article

Fort Union Yoga

Fort Union National Monument

There are many ways to use public land to promote health and wellness. Many of these rich, outdoor spaces invite sensations of awe, curiosity, and deep connection. The human story at these places can also inspire us and provoke strong intellectual and emotional reactions. Since yoga practice is a way to focus our mental energy inward, yoga poses can be a natural complement to the stimulation provided by public lands.

We offer to you some ideas for yoga practice at Fort Union National Monument, a 19th-century adobe fort standing on the windswept, shortgrass prairie of northern New Mexico. You may recognize some of the these poses, but we have re-named them in the context of Fort Union.
Park Ranger doing downward dog yoga pose on grass with mountains in background
Turkey Mountains Pose

NPS Photo

Turkey Mountains Pose

Begin while lying on the floor on your front. Push off the ground with your hands at about shoulder level much like doing a push-up. While trying to keep your back and legs straight; fold in the middle while trying to push your waist as high into the air as you can.

The trees on the Turkey Mountains (in the background) provided a wood supply for Fort Union. The mountains are a laccolith (a large igneous uplift) created when the nearby Ocaté volcanic field was active.
Park Ranger kneeling on right knee with left leg extended backward and right arm extended forward with cannon and adobe buildings in background
Cannon Pose

NPS Photo

Cannon Pose

While on all fours, extend one arm forward and the opposite leg backward creating a straight line with your limbs and back. Meaning, if your left arm is forward, then your right leg should be back, and vice versa. Reach as far forward with your arms and as far back with your legs at the same time to feel the stretch.

The Fort Union Arsenal supplied cannons to army outposts throughout the Southwest in the late 1800s.
Park Ranger standing erect with arms raised above their head and hands meeting together, with flagpole in background
Flagpole Pose

NPS Photo

Flagpole Pose

Spread your legs out to the side as far as you comfortably can while still being able to balance. Reach your hands upward as high as you can. Your palms may touch or have space between them--whatever feels comfortable to you.

The original Fort Union flagpole (not pictured here) was 120 feet tall. The towering symbol of United States authority was a welcome greeting for travelers on the Santa Fe Trail but represented something far more ominous for American Indian tribes living in the area.
Park Ranger in cobra yoga pose, lying on grass while bending upward at waist and supporting upper part of body with extended arms and hands on ground.
Prairie Rattler Pose

NPS Photo

Prairie Rattler Pose

Start by lying on your stomach and placing you’re the palm of your hands on the floor next to your shoulders. While keeping your hips on the ground, push your upper body up with your arms. Remember to not push too hard. Never force a stretch.

The prairie rattlesnake, a fairly common resident at Fort Union, was the bane of Santa Fe Trail travelers and remains an intimidating sight for visitors to the monument.
Park ranger in cat pose yoga position, kneeling with arms extended and hands on floor and back arched upwards.
Covered Wagon Pose

NPS Photo

Covered Wagon Pose

While on all fours arch your back upwards to create a lower-case n-shape while looking at your stomach. This pose is great to do with the Pronghorn Pose. Just do them back and forth, holding each pose and exhaling for a moment, before switching.

Fort Union was a major stop on the Santa Fe Trail, which carried hundreds of wagon trains each year. A wagon train was typically 35-50 wagons.
Park ranger doing Cow yoga pose, kneeling with arms extended and hands on ground and back arched downward.
Pronghorn Pose

NPS Photo

Pronghorn Pose

While on all fours, arch your back downwards to create a U-shape while looking upwards. This pose is great to do with the Covered Wagon Pose. Just do them back and forth, holding each pose and exhaling for a moment before switching.

The pronghorn, which is often called an "antelope," is the fastest land animal in North America. Found in abundance at Fort Union, the pronghorn lives in the western part of the Great Plains and the basins west of the Rocky Mountains.
Park ranger doing Lord of the Dance yoga pose, standing on their left leg and leaning their body to the left while extending their left arm to the left. Their right leg is lifted upward and their right foot is held by the fully extended right arm.
Park Ranger Pose

NPS Photo

Park Ranger Pose

Start from Soldier Pose, then bend your knee and grab one of your feet behind you. Then with your other arm, point forward and bend at the waist while holding your foot. The slower you move into the position the easier balancing will be.

Park rangers tend to be explainers. So much so that there is a Facebook group called Rangers Pointing at Things. But it is unlikely you will ever see a park ranger pointing at an animal or landscape feature as pictured here.
Park Ranger in yoga pose standing in front of fully extended flag on flagpole. Park Ranger is leaning to their right with both arms extend above their head and palms of each hand flat against one another.
Windy Day Flag Pose

NPS Photo

Windy Day Flag Pose

Starting from the Flagpole Pose, slowly bend to one side while keeping your arms in a straight line with your head and shoulders. Hold and exhale on each side. You can drop your arms to your side before coming up to the middle to make it easier. Always start with your arms up before beginning the side bend.

Sometimes known as Fort Windy to the troops, wind is the most pronounced weather feature at Fort Union. Fifteen mile-per-hour winds are routine, 20- to 25-mile-per-hour winds are common, and gusty days with winds exceeding 30 miles per hour are not that unusual.

Last updated: May 15, 2024