Photo by tiarescott

1. Enhanced stress relief. It has been well documented that taking a walk outside in nature can improve mood and reduce stress levels [Source]. If there’s a bit of water close by (beach yoga, anyone?) it enhances that effect even more. In one study, cancer patients who were shown a video of nature scenes including sounds of ocean waves, waterfalls, and creeks, experienced a 20-30 percent reduction in stress hormones such as epinephrine and cortisol [Source]. Add this to the practically magical incredible stress relieving benefits and you’ve got a powerful antidote to stress and all ways it negatively impacts your life.

Photo by Andrey

2. Enhanced brain function. Other studies have shown that there is a real cognitive advantage to spending time in nature. For example, in one study, students who took a test near a window with a view of trees and a lake performed better on tests than those who couldn’t see the view [Source]. function improve enough to make a huge, noticeable difference, but every little bit helps, right?

3. Increased focus on the present moment. It’s true that there’s a lot going on around you when you practice outdoors—there’s the scenery, there’s usually noise, sometimes there are people walking around. One might think it would be a distraction to your yoga practice. But being outside in a natural setting can also help you to be present in your own body. Feel the breeze, the warm sun on your skin, the earth under your feet. This is what it feels like to be in the present moment.

Photo by Benjamin J. Delong

 4. It reminds you to have fun! As a yoga teacher, I try pretty hard to make sure my students are having a little bit of fun and laughing whenever they do yoga with me. But no matter how funny I think I am and how many polite chuckles I get from my students (thanks for throwing me a bone every now and then!), we all sometimes take our yoga practice too seriously. Sometimes all we need is a change of venue to remind us that we do yoga because we really enjoy it, not because we should or because we need something it has to offer us. It feels good to move our bodies, stretch, strengthen, and breathe. It can be as simple as that. What a better way to remind ourselves that yoga (and life in general) can be fun and light-hearted, than heading to the park or the beach.