The Ins and Outs of developing a good yoga practice

HEALTHY LIVING

The Ins and Outs of developing a good yoga practice

Yoga with Heidi Pfleger

There is a saying suggesting that April showers bring May flowers. We had a great deal of rain last month and, as we move into May, the weather and daily temperatures are improving. Yay! Needless to say, we are all looking forward to spending more time outdoors and, for yoga enthusiasts, there are more offerings of doing yoga outdoors, be it in an outdoor class setting or time spent solo on your back deck or in a park. Again, I say, “Yay!”

Most of my yoga practice will now be spent doing asanas (poses) and meditation on my back deck for the better part of the next 4 months. I love time spent outdoors, on my mat Hearing birds chirping, breathing in fresh air, and feeling the sun on my body takes my practice to a different level.

If you are new to yoga, outdoor yoga may not be something you are ready for.

‘My experience has been, both in my own personal practice and teaching of yoga, is that, when you attend a yoga class, you aren’t really doing a yoga practice. Instead, you are following a flow along with others and, hopefully, learning more about yoga from your teacher, in order to prepare you for the ‘self study’ that yoga is really all about – a practice done on your own.’

-Heather Pfleger

The safety of instruction in a controlled and smaller environment may still be more in your comfort level. It is harder to practice yoga outdoors, especially when you are doing so on your own and not sure how to do the poses, let alone create your own safe sequence. That said, I do believe that a balance between some indoor practice in a class setting and some outdoor practice, either on your own or in a class, will provide some added benefits and fun for all existing and aspiring Yogis!

Both indoor and outdoor environments have their benefits and drawbacks, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference and what you find works best for you.

Practicing yoga indoors provides an environment where you can focus on your practice without distractions or discomfort from weather conditions or other outdoor elements No one likes bugs crawling on them or their mat and mosquitoes can be quite a nuisance!

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HEALHTY LIVING

You will also likely be able to rely more on the safe and supervised guidance of a seasoned yoga teacher to help you fine-tune your practice and offer props to help you get further into a pose It is much easier for a teacher to come around and assist you when doing yoga in an indoor environment. This is due to the fact that, during the summer months, more people are drawn to trying out a yoga class outdoors. Class size is usually larger than indoor classes, making it difficult for a teacher to look after their students.

That said, practicing yoga outdoors allows you to soak up fresh air and connect further with nature. Both can help to enhance your practice and provide a sense of calm and relaxation. In fact, being in nature has shown to have a positive impact on mental health. I know that I thoroughly enjoy being able to practice yoga outside of my studio.

I practiced outdoor ‘impromptu’ yoga for the five years that I travelled around the world. That was in the late 80s and I travelled lightly. I didn’t even own a mat, let alone any of the props we use today! When I felt compelled to move into a practice, I just did it and I have many photos of me doing a breathing practice, a

meditation, a tree pose and, yes, even a headstand along place like the Zambezi river, Ganges river, the Himalayas of Nepal and many beaches around the world. “Impromptu” yoga, for me back then, was simply doing a pose or two whenever the mood struck me.

For me, doing an outdoor practice then had less structure to it. I let go of having to do a particular sequence and, instead, did a few poses that simply felt right for me at the time. The practice was usually much shorter but, for me, just as deep as I went with what I felt was most suitable for me and I let go of the fine tunings and intricacies of what I was learning in formal yoga classes.

My experience has been, both in my own personal practice and teaching of yoga, is that, when you attend a yoga class, you aren’t really doing a yoga practice Instead, you are following a flow along with others and, hopefully, learning more about yoga from your teacher, in order to prepare you for the ‘self study’ that yoga is really all about – a practice done on your own. Your real ‘practice’ actually happens when you roll out your mat and do your own breathing methods, meditation and asanas (poses). If you have a

good, seasoned teacher, instructed indoor or outdoor classes help to further educate you in the overall philosophy of yoga and, hopefully, build more confidence in you to create your own practice

Your own practice could be time on your mat, at home and indoors, revisiting a sequence (or part of) that you enjoyed in a class. It could also be as simple as enjoying a few random poses while out in nature or rolling out your mat on a sandy beach and doing a short breathing, meditation and asana (pose) sequence that you feel compelled to do

Ultimately, the most important thing is to be true to your yoga studies and practice, as well as your comfort level. The point of yoga is to develop yourself and to enjoy the experience of your practice.

Namaste.

Heidi Pfleger has been a Yoga Teacher and Wellness Coach for more than 30 years and a student of yoga since the age of five. Born and raised on a farm in the Paris area, Heidi ventured further afield to study Yoga around the world in her twenties and has since been sharing her experiences and continuing in her studies both on and off the mat. Heidi offers regular yoga classes and individual sessions as well as wellness coaching sessions and retreats throughout the year. For more information on her programs, contact Heidi at 519-755-1447.