Yoga has long been celebrated for its ability to harmonise body, mind, and soul. Practising outdoors enhances this connection, offering natural light, fresh air, and a sense of grounding. Discover why outdoor yoga could be the transformative experience your wellbeing needs.
The benefits of yoga in nature
Yoga is well known for its many benefits to body and mind – and taking the practice outside can prove even better for wellbeing.
It has a rich philosophy, a long history, and a deep spirituality, but many continue to view yoga through the narrow prism of physical wellbeing. From this perspective, the postures become no more than a series of exercises best practised in community halls, yoga studios, or gyms, or followed at home in front of an online tutorial. But there’s another way, one that arguably connects more closely with the broader themes of this ancient discipline.
Have you ever considered taking your yoga outdoors?
Connecting through outdoor yoga
The word “yoga” derives from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means “to join” or “to unite”, signifying the practice’s deep rootedness in the art of connection. The act of practising yoga helps to find harmony between mind, body, and soul, and this is only heightened when blue skies, birdsong, and a gentle breeze are added into the mix.
Nick Tietjen, a Vedic meditation teacher and yoga instructor, knows this only too well and has previously led outdoor classes on beaches in Nicaragua and Hawaii, as well as the wide-open spaces of Minnesota and Wisconsin in the American Midwest. His most memorable personal outdoor yoga experience was at the Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort in Nosara, Costa Rica: ‘It was a sunset class in a shala perched in the treetops overlooking the Pacific Ocean,’ he recalls.
‘The sunset was glowing orange and howler monkeys were jumping from tree to tree. The buzz of the insects from the jungle sounded like a beautiful orchestral symphony. This, along with the amazing energy of the people in the class, made for an experience that I will never forget.’
Currently based in Maui, Hawaii, Nick says that the best part of doing yoga outside is the connection with nature: ‘Yoga helps us to become present, and when we are present in nature, we cannot help but be in awe of the natural beauty that we so easily take for granted in our day-to-day lives.’ His favourite place to practise yoga is in Hawaii, by the ocean: ‘I love hearing the sound of the waves, and [when it’s] whale season, it’s absolutely magical to see the humpbacks breaching and playing at the surface.
Yoga really does tie everything together with movement, physical strength, muscle recovery, and mindfulness. And I love practising with other people outdoors. I feed off the collective energy.’
A sacred experience in the wild
In his article, Do You Practise Outdoor Yoga? 6 Compelling Reasons Why You Should, author and yoga instructor Bira looks at the connection between yoga and nature and the inherent pull of the outdoors. ‘Yoga in itself is an independent activity – it is a moment of introspection and meditation – where we are able to withdraw ourselves to contemplate what is important for us,’ he writes.
In the article, Bira lists some of the benefits of practising outdoor yoga, such as immediate grounding, increased mental clarity and awareness, tapping into cosmic energy, and cleansing your emotional body. ‘When we close our eyes and envision what yoga means to us, many of us conjure images or feelings of peace, power, and presence,’ he says. ‘And while plenty of us practise regularly in a yoga studio, it’s beaches, mountains, parks, and the little quiet corners of nature where our yoga can become the most sacred experience.’
Inclusive and accessible practice
Outdoor yoga classes also help to break down barriers and allow people to relax and socialise while drinking in the nature around them. For yoga instructor and author Dawattie Basdeo, a solitary practice jumpstarts her day, alongside her morning run. ‘For me, being in contact with the ground comes with major benefits,’ she says. ‘It feels really nice and exhilarating to be looking up at blue skies and feeling the sunshine on your skin as the yoga asanas open up your energy for the day.’
Dawattie, who teaches children and young adults, and also writes for Breathe’s sibling title, Teen Breathe, believes a person’s connection to learning outdoors starts at a young age: ‘If you look back to our personal experiences as a child, when we had school lessons outdoors, it was always so much more exhilarating.
Yoga outdoors is a lot more exciting and engaging for children [and has] the natural health benefi ts of fresh air, sunshine, and vitamin D.’ But our understanding can go back even further than that again. ‘Thousands of years ago ancient yogis sat out in nature observing the world, and from that they created yoga poses and breathing exercises,’ adds Dawattie. ‘It’s all evolved from nature.’
‘Yoga outside allows you to shift your awareness to what is directly surrounding you’ – Camille Tenneson
With gyms and studios often feeling confining, people seek alternative ways to work out and, at the same time, embrace the benefits of getting outside as a boost to mental health. Camille Tenneson, who’s from Paris, has been teaching vinyasa yoga to adults for several years.
She started her outdoor yoga sessions in 2020, holding them in various parks. ‘Yoga classes in the park allow people to stay active and it’s great from a mindfulness perspective, with all the stress and worries that come with our day-to-day’, she says. ‘I find it to be a real mood-booster, especially when the sun is out.’
For Camille, studio yoga doesn’t compare to the joy of practising outdoors. It’s something she sees as an antidote to the fast pace of city life. ‘It’s so much more accessible,’ she says. ‘I’ve had people passing who ask me about the classes and most of them are absolute beginners.
They wouldn’t have necessarily walked into a yoga studio to enquire. Often, people don’t take the opportunity to get outside and pause. Yoga outside allows you to shift your awareness to what is directly surrounding you: the breeze, the sun on your skin, and all sorts of sounds, and that’s something we can all embrace and celebrate.’
Reasons to take yoga outside
Five reasons to take your personal yoga practice outdoors:
- Practising yoga outside allows you to soak up natural sunlight, which boosts your vitamin D levels and improves your mood.
- Being in nature enhances your sense of connection to the earth, fostering a deeper sense of peace and relaxation during your practice.
- Outdoor yoga provides fresh air, which helps to improve your breathing, increase oxygen intake, and enhance overall respiratory health.
- The uneven surfaces and natural surroundings present unique challenges that can help improve your balance and strength, adding variety to your usual practice.
- The calming environment of outdoor spaces can significantly reduce stress levels, allowing for a more mindful and meditative yoga experience.
WORDS: Judy Cogan
ILLUSTRATIONS: Kate Styling
