There is something undeniably refreshing about moving your practice from the living room to the backyard. As the weather warms up, we’re beginning to shift our energy back toward the sun and the trees. While a studio offers a controlled environment, outdoor yoga classes offer a breath of fresh air—literally.
Transitioning your practice outside is one of the best ways to reconnect with your surroundings, but it does require a little bit of extra thought to keep your flow feeling steady. To help you feel prepared and at home on the grass, I’ve put together a few practical tips for making the most of our outdoor yoga classes this season.
Layer for Comfort
Even if it feels warm when you step out the door, your body temperature changes once you start to move (and once you settle into stillness). When joining us for outdoor yoga classes, I always recommend dressing in layers. A light hoodie or a soft wrap can be easily tossed aside during a flow and pulled back on for a cozy, grounded Savasana.
Find Your Footing
The ground outdoors is rarely as perfectly flat as a studio floor, and that is part of the magic. It challenges your stability and invites you to engage your core and find balance in a new way. For our outdoor yoga classes, you might consider bringing an older mat that you don’t mind getting dirty. You can also place a towel over or under your mat to provide a bit more cushion and a barrier against any morning dew.
Stay Cool & Protected
Even on a cloudy day, being outside can take a little more out of you than an indoor session. Keeping a water bottle nearby is essential for staying hydrated during our outdoor yoga classes. If you’re sensitive to the sun, sunglasses, a hat, or a light, natural sunscreen will help you stay focused on your breath rather than a sunburn.
Settle Into the Surroundings
In a studio, we often try to create a bubble of silence. In outdoor yoga classes, the world happens around us. You might hear a neighbor’s wind chime, a bird overhead, or the wind in the trees. Instead of seeing these as distractions, try to view them as part of the practice. It’s a great way to learn how to stay centered and calm, no matter what is happening in the environment around you.
Embrace the Shift
Whether we are gathering on the back porch or finding a grassy nook near the greenway, outdoor yoga classes offer a fresh perspective on your journey. It’s a chance to let go of the need for a perfect practice and instead embrace the raw beauty of the world—finding harmony with the breeze and the earth as you move.
We would love for you to join us as we step back outside this season. Our community is all about meeting you exactly where you are—whether that’s on a hardwood floor or a patch of grass. Take a deep breath, grab your mat, and come enjoy the sunshine with us. We can’t wait to see you on the mat soon!
Learn about our next outdoor yoga event: “Midtown Mimosa Flow” in Raleigh 5/2!