We all know how our batteries can recharge being in the outdoors. Whether we are under the warm Summer sun or hiking a new path in the misty mountain air, it’s tempting to go outside and finally explore—with friends!—now that this seemingly 2+ year pandemic has made big events possible again. It’s nice to not only feel the loving hug of a friend, but also the grass beneath our feet or see the morning sunlight streaming through the trees. There is a comfort in stretching our limbs to the sky as fresh air caresses our arms, hair, knees. Even in the solitude of a glacier, people are keen to dress appropriately, hit the slopes and hike up a mountain to remind themselves of their freedom and vitality. Most of my yoga practice is either indoors at home via a virtual instructor lesson or YouTube video (if I’m feeling like I want to stick to home base) or indoors yet again at a yoga studio (typically for a certain practice, like hot yoga, or an instructor is favored).
Yoga has been in one of the most difficult positions as an entire industry these past 3 years. One of the largest yoga chains in the world, YogaWorks, filed for bankruptcy in late 2020 along with 60 studios across the USA. Indoor yoga studios closed like the Vancouver Semperviva even with an almost cult following. Numerous restaurants over the past few years have closed in the hospitality industry due to quarantines and restrictions. This is because most people associate yoga with an indoors practice at a studio but this need not be the case. Even though yoga studios still offer a safe space, warmer weather beckons people to get outside.
Whether or not you’re doing yoga indoors or outdoors, you’re still receiving the benefits: reducing stress hormones/cortisol, calorie burn, muscle toning, flexibility, fat elimination, bad craving elimination, easy to sustain and available at any level.
So, how does one optimize an outdoor yoga practice?
The first step to an enjoyable and beneficial outdoor yoga practice is to pick a spot that’s relatively clear of industry. By this, I mean that going to a relatively secluded spot in nature would be best. A favourite nearby park or, if convenient, a forest clearing, away from downtown is perfect as long as central traffic is not obstructing natural sounds of the environment. The furthest thing from Times Square is best! If you seek a teacher-led practice or even something un-guided, you’ll want to hear the practice or maybe some music of your choosing. Bring high-quality, noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones to mitigate any risks of being disturbed by nearby traffic or distracting city noise. The advanced version of outdoor yoga is to go to a place completely free of any cell signal, listen only to the sounds of nature around you and—well, whichever weather you choose to brave is up to you! Important things to note is to remember to bring what you need that a yoga studio inside would typically provide: a mat, a water bottle, likely some layers, and if it’s raining, either find an awning outside or set up some sort of awning yourself. You may also choose to bring a laptop, a speaker, and any sort of spiritual or religious iconography helping you to ground your practice.
Emily of Yogacara appreciates this twist on the traditional practice by saying: “Taking the tools you learn from yoga with you outside naturally progresses your practice; it can make the world around you feel magical. When you’re present in your body and connected to your environment, it brings a new level of joy, curiosity, and appreciation to life. Plus, you get to catch all the beautiful moments you may have missed otherwise.”
Outdoor yoga hasn’t been a typical go-to for yogis but starting this Summer and hopefully for more seasons to come, it will be noticed for its benefits. Outdoor yoga offered by certain teachers or studios have often been accompanied in fun ways with immersive experiences: sound healing ceremonies, dance parties and even silent discos. There are even yoga studios featuring plant medicine microdoses that specifically accompany yoga practice! The nature of bringing your yoga practice outside can increase your space, your connection with nature and bring your body into vibrational alignment. We all could use more space for our downward dogs and pigeon poses, not to mention our warrior poses… let us know your favorite places to do outdoor yoga or where you want to be doing outdoor yoga next.
About the Author
MIA CARA COSCO is a Writer, Sound Healer and Space Holder. She became the Creative Director of the first-ever Psychedelic Salon in 2019, raising $10K and eventually launched a 6-figure business to fund psychedelic research and philosophy. Her mission is to use her 5-10 years of psychedelic medicine advocacy to heal creative entrepreneurs by writing.