Shake things up, bring your practice outdoors and allow your practice to blossom. Taking your practice outdoors brings you out of your ordinary routine, out of your comfort zone which boosts your confidence and can add a creative and playful touch to your yoga. Yoga teacher Amanda Holmström shares her best tips for yoga outdoors!
You don’t need the perfect place to do yoga, you can practice anywhere and anytime, honestly you don’t even need a mat. All you need is yourself and you will learn along the way how to work with whatever the circumstances are. By bringing your yoga practice outdoors you can begin to experience that the “perfect yoga space” actually already exists within you. By this understanding you will develop a deeper connection and ability to tap into this inner space (when you need it the most) on a daily basis, no matter where you are.
Mat or no mat?
Practicing barefoot on the ground has a lot of benefits, especially grounding effects. For example it takes tree pose to a whole other level actually feeling the ground rooting you down into the earth through the standing leg. Feeling the grass or sand between the toes can also add a playful touch to your practice. Allow your inner child to awaken as you practice handstands for example, be playful and creative. Also allow the ground that might be uneven to work for you instead of against you, giving you more of a challenge during balancing poses!
Awaken all your sences
Pay attention not only to the breath and the pose, but also invite nature and the elements to deepen your connection with your senses. Awaken the senses to intensify your practice and allow the outer world to help you connect with the inner world.
Change your perspective
A breeze can help you deepen your breath and gazing towards the sky in down ward facing dog can help you change perspective. Maybe experience the smell of the ocean or newly cut grass as lower down in chaturanga dansasana.
Embrace the distractions!
Increase present moment awareness and practice none judging with what the mind sometimes experiences as “distractions”. Let the insect that might disturb you remind you not to judge, only observe. Embrace the sounds that surround you (creating the best yoga playlist ever!). Even sounds from cars or other noises can help you bring your awareness back to the moment.
Connect with the nature
So salute the sun, connect to the earth and root down into the earth and into yourself. Allow the warmth and the light from the sun fill you up in your final relaxation pose and emanate into every cell of your being. As a final bonus after Savasana, the post-practice possibilities are endless, you're already outside and got the yoga glow going, what could be better?
Happy practicing!
Namaste,
Amanda
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