Taking it Outside! Yoga in Nature

This weekend, Dean, a friend and yoga teacher in training, took us on a yoga adventure at the lake. I loved the idea of it, but had a few reservations about yoga in a remote location- bugs, sweat, braving the elements. 

 We unloaded our coolers and yoga mats and hiked about a mile into the woods. It was warm and we were already hot and sweaty...My friend Ryan and I were wondering if we would ever make it to our destination, which Dean assured us would be worth all of the work. 

We finally made it to a little clearing, which overlooked the lake. It was serene and beautiful. Although only minutes from the city, there were none of the traffic sounds and the constant buzz of activity that we are used to hearing on a constant basis.

 Dean led us into a series of yoga poses and ended with a meditation. I found it surprisingly easy to find my center listening to the familiar sounds of nature- birds chirping, the sounds of the water, trees rustling. Being in the outdoors helped my body to naturally calm and let go of the stressors of my week. I found my breath deepening and connecting to the poses that I was doing. I was mindful and present.

We ended the day with a picnic, plenty of fruits and veggies to replenish and rehydrate. We have plans to take our yoga practice outside while the weather permits. It allowed us to connect with nature and become more mindful of our practice.