Why Yoga works best outdoors

“Here at Dru we love doing Yoga outside. It might be because Snowdonia Mountain Lodge, the home of our Yoga and meditation retreats and courses, is slap bang in the middle of one of the most beautiful valleys in Wales. We often take groups of Yoga students out to practise the flowing tree or Salutation to the Four Directions, overlooking the Glyder mountains. Nothing quite matches the feeling of practising asanas in a group of trees, or facing the most wonderful lake.
   So here in North Wales, we are particularly spoiled by the scenery, and as a result, make sure that on every Yoga holiday we have at least one session outdoors. It’s also a great balm for the soul, after a day of Yoga to stretch and relax by a babbling stream, or to practise Savasana in the middle of a grassy field, surrounded by birdsong.
   But how can we transpose the benefits of nature into our daily Yoga practice? It’s quite easy really. It’s as simple as doing some of your Yoga practice in your garden, or in the park or forest. I’m lucky to live in a very beautiful place, so I go outside every morning and practise Energy Block Release 1, the flowing Dru Sun sequence and Trikonasana, facing the beautiful Snowdonia mountains. I’m pretty committed to doing it in most weather conditions, so light rain or wind won’t stop me. I do, however, draw a line at gales and torrential rain! But for me, the fact that I don’t wait for the perfect weather conditions, does help me do my Yoga outside about 80% of the time. The benefits of this are quite extensive!
Helps detoxification
   In traditional Chinese medicine, having bare feet on the earth at sunrise helps the liver to detox. It’s even better if there is dew on the grass, or if it’s slightly wet! Chilly but beneficial!
Increases the feel-good factor
Nature is universally accepted as increasing feelings of well-being. So, of course, does doing Yoga! It’s something to do with the combination of fresh air, beautiful surroundings and increased negative ions...”

Written by Jane Chapman, who is a Dru Yoga and Meditation teacher trainer, the article continues to describe other benefits of practising Yoga outdoors.
   For details of a special wellbeing weekend taking place out of doors (weather permitting) in Snowdonia from 9-11 October 2009, with a £20 discount to Yoga & Health readers, go to www.druworldwide.com.