fall yoga

By Melody Lima

 

I spent the good part of this summer unrolling my yoga mat outside.

I practiced in the grass, in the sand, on back decks, in a cabin on a mountain and even on a hiking trail. Then I’d hose off my mat and hang it over a nearby railing to dry. When we connect to the earth, literally with our toes in it, we become as connected, grounded and as whole as humanly possible. This connection inspires our yoga practice.

Recently I practiced outside in a park in a class setting with other yogis. Some were friends, some were yoga acquaintances and some I had not met before that day. I instantly was reminded of Patanjali’s first Sutra {1.1}.

Atha Yogānuśāsnaṁ :

Now the exposition, instruction and practice of Yoga takes place.

The energy of asana practice on my mat washed over me like an ocean wave. The good time vibe was abundant. This is why I practice yoga—to feel the liveliness of community; to feel like myself and to feel the necessary connection to both.

When my practice is multi-layered, integrated and creative, I experience a completeness of self. When I synthesize meditation with pranayama, asana on the mat, philosophy and journaling, and off the mat daily tasks, my self is alert, focused and thrives with it all.

Now that Fall is upon us and we’re all back to school with our regular schedules, how can we keep that toes-in-the-grass connection in our practice?

Here are a few suggestions to maintain a yoga practice outside.

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_checklist icon=”fa-envira” iconcolor=”#518c2a” circle=”no” circlecolor=”” size=”15px” class=”” id=””][fusion_li_item icon=””]Stay Outside. Grab your yoga mat and practice outside; under the trees, by the ocean, in your back yard, on a neighbor’s deck, at a nearby park or trail, anywhere you can fit your mat.[/fusion_li_item][fusion_li_item icon=””]Walk. With shoes on or off, walk on a path, in the park, even a city sidewalk keeps the flowing of good vibes consistent. Walking is meditation in action.[/fusion_li_item][fusion_li_item icon=””]Get dirty. Grab those gloves and start digging, weeding, raking leaves, planting fall flowers or shrubs. Even container gardening soothes the soul in this cooler weather. Put your hands or feet in the dirt – literally. The textures of the season can inspire any practice.[/fusion_li_item][fusion_li_item icon=””]Sit. Every morning I go outside, still in my pajamas and sit. Sometimes I listen, meditate or journal. I appreciate those sweet moments of self-reflection before the day gets hectic and busy.[/fusion_li_item][/fusion_checklist][fusion_text]

As the leaves change color and the winds increase, unroll your mat outside to experience the shifting of the seasons.

Namaste.[/fusion_text]

 

Photo: (source)

Editor: Dana Gornall[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

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