Yoga Under The Sun

Of all the twists on this age-old practice, none may boost its potency more than simply taking your poses outside.

- Sara Angle

There’s a beautiful thing that happens when you leave the confines of the yoga studio— the walls come down, mentally as well as physically. “Fresh air encourages people to breathe a little easier, and being outside feels less confining, which often results in people stretching more deeply and opening their bodies more freely,” says Rebecca Weible, the founder of Yo Yoga in New York City, which offers classes outside.

The benefits extend down to the ground you’re standing on. If you’re practicing on grass or sand, the uneven surface may make it harder to balance, but the stability challenge can strengthen your core and leg muscles, Weible says. The non-uniform terrain also forces you to pay more attention to your alignment, she says, which helps you maintain focus and connect to something greater than yourself. 

“We’re all linked to the environment, so being in nature helps us understand our own mind-body connection,” says Mantas Zvinas, a yoga instructor and the founder of SurfYogaBeer, a company that hosts yoga and fitness retreats. Inspired? Here are three ways to flow outside.