By Amira Ibrahim
With International Day of Yoga and World Environment Day taking place last month, let’s delve into some benefits of yoga in green spaces, the connection between environmental health and human health and eco-friendly yoga practices to try out.
Yoga has steadily gained more and more popularity over the years, with outdoor yoga sessions becoming more frequent. Despite the recent popularity, yoga has been around for 5,000 years, initially stemming from Northern India.
Popular spaces for yoga are often spacious parks, beaches, and forests. The natural light, fresh air, and grounding provide more relief and mental clarity during the exercise. Subsequently, those who do yoga outdoors are also more likely to foster a deeper connection with the earth, through the practice of ‘grounding’. Grounding is when your skin has direct contact with the earth, and in yoga you can choose to be barefoot. Although there are not many studies on this particular practice that confirm its effectiveness.
With 1 in 8 people worldwide living with a mental health disorder, it is increasingly essential to introduce healthy practices to support your body and mind. Yoga has been studied and successfully proven to be effective in reducing depression with regular sessions. Beyond mental health, yoga can assist in enhancing physical strength, flexibility, and balance—even easing arthritis symptoms and improving general heart health.
Yoga encourages self-care and relaxation through meditation, physical movement, and breathing exercises. This can be a form of stress management and mindfulness, ultimately advancing your mental health. Spending time outdoors also encourages better mental health, as “the proximity to greenspace has been associated with lower levels of stress.” So partaking in yoga, particularly in green spaces, can help in decreasing stress and improving your mood.
Some eco-friendly yoga practices can be as simple as checking the materials of your yoga mats, clothing, and water bottles. For mats, you can look for ones that are derived from natural rubber or bamboo. You can also consider clothes from brands with ethical production and avoid single-use plastic bottles.
Other eco-friendly yoga practices can be going to local eco-conscious studios and instructors. Practicing yoga outdoors is also a conscious way of connecting with the environment. Whilst outdoors, you can also avoid littering to remain eco-friendly.
Yoga can give a sense of community and allow you to connect with others for group healing and support. Here are some examples of Birmingham-based groups that are available to join if you would like to try group yoga outdoors:
These activities and programmes can be accessed anywhere. To find similar spaces, please check local gyms, community centres, or online websites and apps like Eventbrite to discover more options closer to you. You can also try outdoor yoga on your own or with friends!