One of the reasons yoga is such a beautiful experience is because it makes us feel more connected to the world around us. Experiencing yoga whilst immersed in nature can take this sense of awareness to the next level in our practice. Practicing Raw Yoga in nature can connect us even more so.
You’ll never feel so rejuvenated or ready to face the day as you do after a yoga class on the beach and a morning dip in the ocean. Imagine opening your eyes after a relaxing yoga class to reveal a spread of mountain peaks before you. Feeling the ocean air on your bare skin is healing.
If you haven’t tried yoga in the great outdoors, it’s time to get out there! Let’s look at some of the most inspiring places outside of the studio to do yoga.
Humans thrive when they can see the beauty of nature and feel beautiful and free like a moving cloud, which is why you should find a place to practice where you can view all of the magic the world has to offer. This could include manmade beauties or natural wonders like mountains or waterfalls. Whether you find a good rooftop, balcony, or hilltop, it’s great to head to spaces with wide-open vistas.
Research has shown patients with a good view in hospitals have better recovery times than patients who don’t. Views have also been accredited to faster learning in classrooms and increased productivity at work. Combine a view with the healing and unifying forces of yoga, and you could start evolving at lightning speed!
The sight of bright orange and rose sunrise or sunset will help you develop the expansiveness you need in your practice, as is overlooking a lush valley or wide, grassy plains. Given that many people spend a significant amount of time staring at a screen less than a meter in front of them, it’s a good idea to exercise your eyesight and let your eyes explore. And if you’re going to a high altitude for your views, practicing pranayama on the way up will give extra strength and vitality to your respiratory system.
Go Green
Go green – in every sense of the word. It’s good to eschew the electricity bill and ensure your yoga retreat or studio is using renewable energy where possible. But heading to a lush park, jungle or rainforest is also a gorgeous way to practice. Being surrounded by an ecosystem of thriving life can only boost your yogic connection with the world around you.
More and more benefits of going green are being discovered every day as well. A German study recently found that looking at different hues of green can boost both motivation and creativity – and who doesn’t want more of that in their lives? Green is a color that suggests nourishment and thriving life, just like a great yoga class, so get outside and reconnect with the world around you today!
On the beach
On a yoga journey, it’s important to get in touch with what satiates your spirit. Think of that fresh feeling after a morning dip in the ocean and all the natural uplift this experience gives you. Add yoga and mindful breathing to the mix, and you’ll be on cloud nine!
Yoga on the beach can help you clear your heart and mind with ease. The sound of waves lapping at the shore and the smell of salty air will allow your mind, lungs, and heart to flourish.
Before or after your yoga session, be sure to take a swim in the sea if you can! Saltwater from the ocean is beneficial for us as it enables us to absorb all kinds of trace elements, not to mention that sea salt is essential for humans. This may sound hyperbolic, but it’s true! Sea salt can help prevent those cramps you might get during yoga and replenishes the electrolytes you can lose while exercising and sweating. It’s a great natural treatment for skin conditions like psoriasis and acne and can provide relief for people suffering from arthritis and other conditions with similar complaints.
Practicing yoga on the beach requires you to exercise your coordination and balance yourself in new ways. While more challenging than simply working on the flat surface of your mat at home, yoga in the sand can also be gentler on the joints for people with knee and ankle problems. Many people love the support the malleable sand can give them as they do their yoga. This supported feeling in the body translates to a supported feeling in the soul, and the feeling you are ready to take on the world.
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