As part of the Protecting Ancient Trees campaign, I want to highlight how people can spend more time outdoors whilst still respecting the natural environment. Around a year ago I started taking yoga classes which I found were beneficial for both my physical and mental wellbeing. As soon as I started to take my practice outdoors, this is where I really found a large difference in the experience I had.
Most people have heard by now that spending time outdoors is a good way to improve your mental and physical health. But sometimes our busy lives make this difficult to achieve. This means it is more important than ever to make sure the things we already do regularly are as beneficial as possible. By making slight changes to our regular habits, including moving our exercise outdoors, we are able to enhance these benefits. So, why should you think about
practicing yoga outdoors and how can you make sure you are doing this whilst
respecting nature? Read on to find out more!
Liforme is a B-Corp company who create eco-friendly and biodegradable yoga mats and advocate for the protection of our precious planet and its people. They are kindly supporting the Protecting Ancient Trees campaign to raise awareness of ancient trees and the benefits of practicing yoga outdoors.
Benefits of practicing yoga outdoors:
– Increased Vitamin D
Practicing yoga outdoors can potentially increase our levels of Vitamin D – dependent on if you choose a day which has blue skies and sunshine! Make sure you top up on your SPF before practicing!
According to the NHS, between late March and September, you should be able to get the recommended intake of Vitamin D from sunlight whilst outdoors. Vitamin D is produced by the body as a result of direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors, and regulates certain nutrients required by humans for healthy bones, teeth and muscles. The government does recommend taking a daily Vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter months, when the sunlight levels reduce and are not strong enough for your body to produce Vitamin D.
– Boosting green medication
I’m sure many of you have seen recently in the news that GPs are now prescribing people green medication, such as walks in the park, rather than conventional medicine. This could also include bringing your yoga practice outdoors. Many yoga poses are designed to stretch and strengthen certain parts of our bodies, whilst other poses are believed to support our more complex immune and nervous systems.
In 2018, a UK-wide stress survey found that 74% of adults felt so stressed that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope with daily life. Studies have found that regular yoga practice and meditation can help to reduce stress in adults. These findings are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of green medication, but they show clear benefits of unconventional medication and spending more time outdoors.
– Enhanced mindfulness and connection with nature
Listening to the sweet chirps of birds and the rustling of leaves on the trees can do wonders for our mental wellbeing. During our yoga flow, being surrounded by peaceful and natural noises can enhance our connection to nature. The mud or grass between our toes can help us feel more grounded during our practice and help us to become more self-aware.
– Opportunity to build a community and connect with others.
Outdoor group runs and exercise classes including yoga, are becoming increasingly popular. Many people who love yoga, also love nature and spending time outdoors, so it is a great way to connect with likeminded people and build a community. These group activities can also boost your confidence. Try posting on a local noticeboard or Facebook page to arrange a group yoga session! Practicing outdoors means there isn’t a limit on the number of people who can join in!
– Building confidence
Practicing yoga in front of others can be daunting, but yoga practice is designed to create a unique experience and can be tailored to match the needs of the individual. So, practicing outdoors in front of passersby can help us to build our confidence and feel more secure in our ability. Slowing down and paying attention to our thoughts can help us to gain mental clarity, which can also boost our self-belief and build confidence in ourselves and our decisions.
– Fresh air provides increased breath awareness
Breathing is one of the key things that yoga looks to transform, and breathing in fresh air can help us to become more aware of our breath and improve our practice. Spending time in fresh air can increase the level of oxygen in our blood, increase our energy levels, boost our immune system and also improve our digestion, amongst lots of other things too! Taking a deep breath of fresh air can also relieve stress and anxiety, with natural scents such as floral or earthy tones, only enhancing this benefit.
– Improved physical fitness and flexibility
Usually if we place our mat on the ground, either in a park or a garden, the ground will not be perfectly flat. This slightly uneven surface helps to intensify a yoga posture and enhance the physical benefits. The surface should help to engage our core strength muscles and strengthen them. This is especially true for muscles in our feet, legs and spine.
How you can practice yoga without harming the environment.
– Make sure you pick up a mat which is eco-friendly and biodegradable – such as one from Liforme. This ensures that it can be recycled in the future once disposed of. However, this may not be accessible for you, and so you do not necessarily need to buy a yoga mat. You could borrow one from a friend or family member, or look for a second-hand one online.
– If you practice yoga regularly outdoors, make sure you are picking different spots to place your mat, to make sure you aren’t causing repeat compaction of the soil beneath you.
– Similarly, try to pick spaces in open areas and try not to practice under the canopy of trees, or by using trees for support. As this can cause harm to the trees.
– Try to choose open spaces with a clear view of the space around you and a location with little distractions. Although if practicing by yourself, make sure you do not choose anywhere too secluded.
– Take a reusable water bottle with you, and make sure you take everything home with you.
This Protecting Ancient Trees blog post is supported by Liforme. They kindly sent me their Purple Earth Mat which features their planet friendly GripForMe material and their unique AlignForMe system, which aids with practical alignment, which I find really useful during my practice. The mats have many sustainable credentials including the use of non-toxic inks, natural rubber materials, plastic-free and recyclable packaging, carbon offsetting and supporting charity partners in the environmental sector.
Liforme Purple Earth Yoga Mat – Liforme Purple Earth Yoga Mats | Created In Honour Of Our Planet
