Yoga Outside – Back to Basics? Think Again

mats Yoga Outside Back to Basics? Think Again

Yoga and nature do have a very close connection. Yoga meaning “union”, and sometimes it feels like a union between ourselves and the world around us – especially when we are practicing yoga outside. Many of the yoga poses are named after natural features such as tree pose and flower pose. Animals names are also very common such as snake, cobra, turtle and butterfly. just a very simple example to show the connection between yoga and nature.

I do feel that practicing yoga outside takes some extra preparation including perhaps sunscreen, bug spray, water and a different mat that you would normally use. I would question that it’s “easier” than practicing inside. Practicing outside can also take more focus as it’s harder to find a level piece of ground to work on and little bugs or dust can easily make you lose your concentration. also the temperature isn’t as predicable so I find myself taking extra layers on and off throughout my practice. Airplanes overhead or motorcycles passing by certainly don’t help either. The sun coming and going behind clouds can change your mood at a moments notice.

The rewards are unbelievable though. So all that aside, practicing outside can be amazing as well rewarding; the sun, the breeze and the trees just to name a few. The experience freeing, free of walls, barriers, mirrors, house dust, toys, dirty dishes and unfolded piles of laundry. Can’t we all benefit from some free extra vitamin D? Depending on the scenery and location, you can get lost in the moment a lot easier than inside your living room! making us aware of our really small part in this really big world. The experience can bring you closer to nature, and that can benefit our bodies, our mind, our soul and nature itself. making it less likely that we would hurt or damage our natural environment. Bringing us more in tune with ourselves and the world around us.

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There is also something to be said for practicing in a studio setting too. some studio’s create an unbelievably serene and restful atmosphere complete with fountains, natural products, controlled temperatures and unbelievable sound tracks.

I think each location has it’s time and place. each one has it’s charms and detractions. This summer pack your essential outside yoga supplies (sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, mat), or at least sunscreen and give it a try.

Yoga Outside – Back to Basics? Think Again