Over the past few decades’ yoga has reached beyond the confinement of the four walls of yoga studios, gyms, and homes finding new spots in the arms of nature in parks, gardens, riversides and especially beaches. A beach yoga travel is one of the most popular spots for yoga tourism and outdoor yoga trends. Practicing yoga surrounded by the mighty waves of the ocean, the energising rays of the sun, and the tranquil atmosphere around the beach with grainy golden sands under your feet is one of the most serene experiences to pair your yoga session with.
A Yoga setup on a beach not only leaves you feeling physically energized, but also leaves a lasting memory on the body which gets heightened by the natures’ touch and its healing benefits. Yoga on the beach hits different, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. If you are seeking yoga for calm and balance, visiting Goa for your next yoga travel vacation can be an ideal choice.
Why Beaches are a Popular Choice for Yoga
Find stress relief in the arms of nature
The primary reasons that yoga has gained global popularity over these last few years is people finding respite from stress and lifestyle diseases in the various styles of Yoga. Yoga has not just become an outlet for physical movement, but also for mental clarity and better emotional regulation. When this experience is combined with enjoying yoga outdoors on the beach, the overall experience gets heightened and leaves a tantalizing memory for the mind, body, and soul. When you are on the beach, you get to directly interact with nature, perform grounding asanas on the sands of the beach, do Tratak meditation with the rising sun and spend nature walks in solitude that open channels of communication and better understanding about one’s own self.
Improved balance and strength on sand
Practicing yoga on the sands of the beach is very different from practicing it on a traditional yoga mat. The sturdiness and steady support offered by your traditional yoga mat may feel comforting and supporting while you are performing various yogic asanas, but trying out yoga on the beach with uneven surfaces of the sand can be equally fun and exciting. When your yoga surface is not as sturdy as a solid ground or a concrete floor, your body tends to focus more on engaging the core muscles to support the body and hold balance. This way not only do you engage all the muscles of your body but you also become consciously aware of various muscle movements and breath works engaged in the direction of a certain yoga posture.
Boost your vitamin Sun
It is no surprise that practicing yoga on the beach will shoot your vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is one of the most common and most healing vitamins offered to us free of cost by nature. But we often end up avoiding it the most. Not only do we escape from the sun, but we also eliminate all possibilities of receiving any warmth and therapeutic benefits of the sun. Traditionally, Ayurveda speaks volumes about the healing benefits of the sun. Therefore, it prescribes a Dinacharya (daily routine) which includes following the movements of the sun. Meaning, one should ideally start their day with the rising sun, perform physical movements yoga asanas and breath work techniques under the sun to both benefit from morning movement as well as seek the healing benefits from the morning sun’s rays. When you practice yoga on the beach, you expose your body, skin, eyes, and all your guarded faculties to the therapeutic healing of the sun.
Experience community
Yoga sessions on the beach attract yoga enthusiasts and wellness seekers from various countries and walks of life this brings you to experience a sense of community with like-minded people who support each other in their journeys of yoga and growth. Practising yoga in the arms of nature with a like-minded community can be a refreshing experience. You go back not just with memories, but with lasting friendships and sometimes even professional connections. If you are a solo yoga traveller, you may find just the right company with whom you can plan your next yoga adventure.
Find digital detox
When you are busy enjoying your time on the beach playing with the sand and allowing the wins from the ocean ruffle your hair, you will automatically detach yourself from harmful screens and enjoy the company of nature. A yoga session on the beach detaches you from digital distractions and a zone where you stress out your eyes and brain to focus on trivial things which at the end don’t necessarily make you happy. Yoga experiences on the beach can not only be positively rejuvenating but also digitally healthy for your eyes and mind.
What does performing yoga at the beach feel like?
Performing yoga at the beach can be described as a rejuvenating and healing experience, where all forces of nature come together to bring conscious body and breath awareness paired with nature’s own healing touch. For instance, if you are doing Vrakshasana (Tree pose), with feet digging into the sand for balance, eyes focused on the horizon, hands uniting to salute the bliss of nature, and the tropical winds bringing the taste of the ocean, you experience an an encompassing surreal state of bliss.
Conclusion
Beach yoga has become a popular choice amongst yoga lovers and wellness enthusiasts because of its natural appeal and refreshing ambience. Performing yoga on the beach not only enhances your yoga practice, but also allows you to experience the bliss of nature with therapeutic benefits of the yogic asanas combined with the outdoor presence in the beach. You may also find it interesting to join a Yoga ttc in Goa like the ones offered by AdiYogam, which is situated in the Arambol beach in Northern Goa. AdiYogam offers the best yoga teacher training experiences amidst nature under the guidance of traditional yoga gurus like Bharat Ram ji.
