Off to to Kathmandu for another Himalayan adventure. This time, I’ll be climbing to the Everest Base Camp (EBC) with my Kundalini Yoga mentor who is celebrating her 60th birthday. She’s chosen to honor this milestone by trekking to EBC. I feel deeply grateful to join her on this life changing journey.
Our trek runs from May 1 to May 16, 2025. The excitement is real, but so is my anxiety. For the past two months, I’ve been training consistently with a gym trainer, alternating between sessions on the stairmaster and the treadmill set at an incline. This combination has helped build my cardiovascular endurance and leg strength in preparation for the trek. Additionally, I’ve been doing day climbs during weekends on Mt. Makiling to simulate hiking conditions and get used to carrying a loaded backpack. Still, I wonder if it’s enough. One requirement is 100 burpees daily. Right now, I can do 50, three times a week, not daily. Still I remind myself that progress matters more than perfection.
Alternating between sessions on the stairmaster and the treadmill with a 10-kilo weighted vest
High-altitude Everest Base Camp
EBC sits at 5,440 meters (17,881 feet) in Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park, serving as the launching point for climbers aiming for Everest’s 8,848-meter summit. Our route starts at Lukla Airport (2,860 meters) and winds through Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Debuche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorakshep, and finally EBC, before retracing our steps back. The slow pace is essential for acclimatization. I’ve seen firsthand how altitude sickness can strike. This was in Ladakh (3,500 meters or 11,500 feet) where my roommate was hospitalized for days.
The final destination, Everest Base Camp (Photo: Elite Exped)
Preparing for EBC is as much a mental challenge as a physical one.
The trek involves 5-6 hour days, steep trails, and high altitudes, so building endurance, flexibility, and resilience is key. Conditioning hikes, like those on Makiling, have helped me get used to my gear and carrying a loaded backpack. While in Kathmandu, my trainer advised me to taper off and focus on “city walks” to let my body recover.
This trek is more than a physical feat, it’s a celebration of milestones, a bucket list dream, and a chance to embrace uncertainty and reconnect with nature. I’m excited and yet nervous, but determined to take it one step at a time. As a yoga teacher, this journey is a living practice of balance, endurance, and presence.
Here’s to new heights and the lessons the mountains will teach.
In loving service,
Rosan
