Of course in the true tradition of yoga it shouldn’t matter, and the idea is to be able to switch off from external distractions and focus wherever we are, whatever is going on around us. When it comes to meditation, this can be incredibly helpful, as it can become a tool in our day to day lives allowing us to find space and stillness. Being able to control our minds and emotions can help us manage our lives better and we can only learn to do this while we are going through it.
This was something I considered when preparing to train to teach yoga. Should I go away for a month’s intensive immersion in India or should I try to fit it in around my full time job and regular life? I opted for the second choice and, although it was hard work, I’m glad I did because that’s the reality.
We all lead busy lives with different demands on our time, home and work pressures and social commitments. But if you can still find time to practice yoga while all that is going on then you’re onto a good thing. Because that’s when we need it most: when everything feels like a rush, when we feel overwhelmed and when we don’t feel we have enough time.
That said, given the choice, I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting to find peaceful places to practice and settings where we can feel more connected with nature. Just being outdoors in itself can lift our spirits, as a recent blog in The New York Times identified.
And doing yoga outdoors or in more natural environments is a great way to enjoy the benefits of both.
When I practice in the park or on the beach it’s a completely different experience to that of being inside a studio or sports hall. The sense of space and freedom has an immediate effect, releasing tension and opening up the body. There are no walls to constrict you, no ceilings blocking the view of the sky and you can truly take a deep, slow breath of the air around you. It’s invigorating (especially up on the cliffs on a windy day) and calming at the same time. Feeling the grass underfoot or sand between the toes helps to truly connect with the earth and remind us we are part of something so much bigger and more solid than our daily lives.
This sense of perspective from being in nature can help make our worries feel less significant and overwhelming. When faced with a landscape that has stood there for centuries or watching the sea ebb and flow as it will continue to do for years to come, you get a sense of grounding that takes away the anxiety we can all feel at times.
Living in the South East of England we are lucky to have lots of beautiful open spaces, from the parks, woods and rivers of London to the green fields of the countryside and coastal cliffs. In Sussex, there are a number of places which offer yoga and other treatments in beautiful settings, like The Yoga Garden in Storrington and the Wellbeing Centre in Stone Cross.
I’m also really excited to be starting yoga workshops at the Seven Sisters Country Park, set in the beautiful Cuckmere Valley. With the river wending its way to the sea on one side and the paths to explore through Friston Forest on the other, it’s a place to relax, unwind and find some space for yourself.