As the weather gets warmer, all we think of is hanging outside and with the sun shining on our skin.
Whether it’s for a barbecue with friends, chilling out in a park or practicing your favourite activity, everything feels so much better in fresh air. Taking time to enjoy good weather is especially important when living in the UK where the four seasons can be reunited in just one day!
Practicing Yoga outdoors can be a huge benefit to your wellness
As a yogi and Yoga teacher, I want to share a few reasons why it makes sense to do Yoga outside.
- Yoga is an ancestral practice coming from India, where they mainly practice outdoor at sunrise and sunset. The physiological aspect of this practice has a better impact on our bodies depending on the time of the day. Of course it depends on each person and what your body and mind are up to when practicing at different times of the day. Just go with what feels right to you.
- I personally love practicing in a park because I’m freer in my movements. I have much more space to explore my easy moves and I feel more connected to myself as I connect with nature.
- In my opinion, the best place to practice yoga is surrounded by the nature. Why? Because we B.R.E.A.T.H.E, and we breathe better. There is more oxygen and less carbon dioxide than in a closed studio. The air is purer, and our bodies happier. This all what Yoga is about, breathing gently and deeply will get you to explore further than what you would ever imagined.
“If you can breathe you can do yoga” Krishnamacharya.
- Practicing yoga outdoors doesn’t cost anything, no need to pay for a studio, or a membership to a gym. If you feel comfortable enough to practice on your own, then find your favourite park, put your mat down and take your time to enjoy a blissful Yoga session.
Not sure what Yoga poses will work outdoors?
Yoga remains the same whether you practice outdoors or indoors. Your routine will depend on your state of mind, your energy and the time that you can allocate to it. Even though the practice would remain the same, there are always a few poses that feel incredibly nice to do outside. I often chose some more heart opening poses to receive more oxygen within my body and to greet the sun at a deeper level. This makes me feel amazingly happy and leaves me in a peaceful state every time.
The best parks to practice Yoga in near you
The great thing about Yoga is you can practice anywhere at any time and you can even adapt your routine based on how you feel at the time! As long as you practice for yourself, every park in London is free to use. The parks where I love practicing are of course Hyde park. This is probably my favourite one because of the lake. I found there a great balance between the different elements, for those that are very much connected to the water you will find great spot over there! I also love Holland Park (my second favourite), St James park, Green park and Hampstead heath. There are so many places in London where you can enjoy a peaceful session. I am sure there are many more that I haven’t discovered yet!
Outdoor Yoga classes this Summer in London
Over the summer, many Yoga’s events are taking place in London. This is what is great about this city. Londoners are great at sharing what Yoga is and how this can change your life.
Here are a few events that I love to attend every year:
- International yoga day on Sunday 18th June 2017 (Free event) – a great event to attend whether you are new to Yoga or more experienced.
- My seasonal outdoor classes (Free event) – accessible to everyone, difficulty options are given so everyone can enjoy the class despite their level.
- Soul Circus – I would say it welcomes everyone too, but it is a costly event so people usually attend who know what to expect from yoga.
These are just a few options, but of course if you check on Facebook or search online you will find a lot more!
What do you need to practice Yoga outdoors?
If you have a yoga mat that you are happy to use outside then you can easily use that, as most of yoga mats are washable. You also can use a grip towel or a folded yoga mat that fits in your bag. Yoga brands have many convenient mats that make your outdoor yoga practice enjoyable. I would highly suggest wearing comfortable clothes that allow you to move without being restricted. Here is a blog post that I wrote about what to wear for a Yoga class that can help you.
Now that you know everything about outdoor Yoga, give it a go and see how you feel! Free events are always great to attend if you wish to discover more. I can guarantee one thing, “you will never regret a yoga practice, whatever your level is”.
Namaste.
Read more articles written by Nadège and find out about her Yoga and fitness classes at http://www.nadegelouvet.com/
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