Taking your asana practice outdoors connects you with the earth, the sky, the sun; opening your senses to the sights and sounds of nature around you. Dedicating a specific time during the morning hours and greeting the day with sun salutations (Surya Namaskar) or meditation opens a channel within you to set your mind and purpose. A short chair yoga session during your lunch break can recharge your mind and invigorate your body to complete the workday with more focus and less stress. A gentle nighttime yoga session (yes outside!) including moon salutations (Chandra Namaskar) or sitting in meditation listening to cicadas sing, calms the nervous system, connects you with the creatures of the night and disconnects you from a busy day.
During poses like Tadasana (Mountain Pose), Virabhadrasana 2 (Warrior 2) and Ashta Chandrasana (High Lunge) feel yourself connecting with the earth beneath you as if your feet have roots digging deep into the soil. Raise your arms up towards the trees and the sky while you envision your connection and place in the world and further out into the universe.
Taking your yoga practice outside will expand your personal asana practice and expand your connection to your community and the world around you.
Try this during your next outdoor yoga practice.
Begin in Tadasana (Mountain pose) standing tall and strong with a neutral spine.
The soles of your feet are spread wide and every part touches the ground and connected to the earth.
Bring your attention to the top of the head and feel your connection to the sky and the universe as you prepare to open up your chakras to receive insight from the divine consciousness.
Move into Pranamasana or Prayer pose and hold an intention, prayer or focus in the mind and heart.
As you raise your prayer hands up towards the sky, bring that intention up into your hands and release it out to the divine, open your hands and arms to receive the blessing as you bend at the hips and come into Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend) bringing the blessing from the divine down to the earth.
Continue with your yoga sequence and repeat the above steps as you see fit during your practice.
Return 2 Center: Yoga 