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(Return to
Mindfulness off the Mat list)
Based on my classroom’s dimmed
lights, candles, essential oil of citrus, and ambient music, you have
probably already keyed into the fact that atmosphere can have a strong
influence on the quality of a yoga session (of course, if you haven't had
the chance to experience this aspect of my class firsthand, well, my
sympathies to you J). The same can be
said for expanding the concept of yoga to enjoying an outdoor ambience.
There really is nothing like inhaling fresh spring air, feeling the sun
warming your skin, surveying the vast colors and textures that surround you,
and beholding the pleasant sounds which are quite often so entrenched in the
background that we fail to hear them. Here, you can use a sense of physical
distance to further remove you from your day’s stresses, and rather than
rely on some elaborate yoga technique, simply allow yourself the pleasure of
being mindful out in nature. But how to enact such a joyful activity despite
a hectic schedule? Now that the season is upon us, here are some ideas:
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Do you read the paper?
Don’t change your habit; change your habitat! Head over to the park,
and let the sounds of the birds soothe your mind as you take in the news.
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Morning coffee? Sip it
outside, on the patio, allowing all of your senses to awaken with the
stimuli of nature as well as the caffeine.
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Unusually warm day?
Use it to your full advantage: drag a picnic blanket out into the yard,
perform about ten minutes of yoga, then relax on your back for about five
more minutes. Total time needed: about 15 minutes.
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Over the weekend, plan a
family day trip to a northern Illinois or southern Wisconsin state
park. You’d be amazed at the therapeutic value of a simple hike on a
rustic path. Bring bottles of water to keep everyone hydrated.
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Check out the local nature
centers for their organized activities, and indulge yourself at least
one. Sometimes an “appointment” with nature is easier to keep than an
unscheduled stop.
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Nature’s Yoga Circuit:
This takes a bit of time/planning, but it’s well worth it. On a walk at
the local park, choose intervals in which you stop your walk and perform
some yoga. For example, walk five minutes, stop, and perform the Warrior.
Walk another five minutes, stop, and perform the Triangle. Walk five
more minutes, and perform the Dancer (you can hold onto a tree for this
one; I won’t tell!). Etc. etc. etc. By the end of the walk, you will
feel both energized from the aerobic activity AND refreshed from the yoga!Õ
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