Yoga has many benefits, and one of those is improved flexibility. That’s why it’s such a common practice for dancers—the more flexible you are, the better your performance can be. It’s also good for older adults because as we age, our bodies naturally become less limber as the years go by.
Regular people who want to be stronger, have more energy, and reduce their stress levels can also benefit from taking up yoga. It’s a form of active meditation that has been known to help with a number of problems like insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety attacks, depression, chronic pain, and more.
However you feel about the practice of yoga, there’s no denying that it can be very good for your body. And if there’s one thing that people generally agree on, it’s that you can get the best results when you’re doing yoga on a regular basis.
But most people do yoga indoors, in a studio along with other people, or at home alone.
Yoga has been practiced outdoors for years. That being said, why should you try yoga outside? And how can you get the most out of it?
Outdoor Yoga Classes Are Relaxing
Yoga is a form of moving meditation that requires complete focus and attention on your body and your breathing. When you’re doing yoga in an environment where everything around you is calm, it becomes easier to let go of the stress from the week and become one with your surroundings.
Getting away from all the hustle and bustle of city life can actually make it easier for you to find peace within yourself, which makes outdoor yoga classes more relaxing than indoor ones. Doing yoga in a park, for example, moves you away from traffic which can create distractions. Moreover, being surrounded by nature has already been proven to decrease stress and induce a meditative state.
You’ll Also Be Out in the Sun
Most people spend their days indoors under fluorescent lights or staring at computer screens. When you finally get the opportunity to go outside, your mind and body become more relaxed.
Yoga outdoors can be great for those who have been feeling run down from being cooped up inside. Without a roof over our heads, we’re also exposed to vitamin D from the sun which has its own health benefits as well as improved mood. Yoga helps you take in oxygen at a deeper level, so combining it with vitamin D is going to help you feel better than ever!
You Breathe Fresh Air
Another great benefit to doing yoga outdoors is the improved air quality. When you do yoga in a studio, you’re breathing recycled air which doesn’t allow your brain to receive the full benefits of oxygen intake. Yoga moves help to take in plenty of oxygen by breathing deeply and through different exercises that require focus and concentration, but it’s even better when you’re taking in natural oxygen.
How to Do Yoga Outdoors
If you’d like to try yoga outside, the first step is finding a good spot.
Depending on where you live, that can be easier said than done. You don’t want to do your poses near another busy street where cars are zipping by.
You also want to avoid doing yoga where there are dangerous animals, poisonous plants, or other potential threats. Yoga doesn’t require a tremendous amount of effort, so there should be no need to go somewhere extremely remote either.
Start slow and find a park or another area where you can do poses without being distracted by all of the sounds around you. If you have a yard, that’s a great place, too; but make sure that your irrigation and sprinkler systems are turned off before you get started.
To make sure that your poses are safe and effective, go with an instructor who has experience working outside. Many studios offer outdoor yoga classes during the warmer months, so contact yours to see if any of their instructors offer it. You should also look for classes in local parks or other areas where people gather. Yoga is meant to be a group activity, so it can be really nice to do it with other people.
As humans, our bodies are made to be outdoors. Our lungs evolved, so we could breathe fresh air and take in the sun’s Vitamin D. Combining those two things with yoga is a great way to let your body and mind heal themselves. Doing yoga outside can also help you become more aware of how much stress you’re allowing into your life and how it’s impacting your health and emotional well-being.
