Rooftop Yoga Class – Stress Relief and Mesmerising Surroundings

Have you ever tried yoga outdoors, maybe on a beach, garden or even some Rooftop Yoga? I love practicing yoga outside, in fact I would go so far as to say I prefer it to practicing indoors. Maybe it’s a Scotland thing, where my mentality is to get outside and enjoy every single second while the sun is shining? Or perhaps there’s something about yoga outside that makes it feel a whole lot more yoga-like?

According to some quick research there are many benefits to practicing yoga outdoors. There’s the increase in Vitamin D which is essential for strengthening our bones and helping us to absorb calcium. Any chance to boost our Vitamin D levels is surely a good thing. But there’s a lot more to yoga in the garden than just Vitamin D. Practicing in the sunshine helps with the production of serotonin – a feel good hormone which regulates mood, appetite and sleep.

Boosting Sleep

During the summer months I often find it difficult to sleep. Being out of the routine of work every day tends to knock me off kilter for a bit, but heading outside for some yoga is a method I use to counter-balance the poor sleep. It’s a bit like getting up first thing in the morning and heading for a walk – spending time in the fresh air first thing can help to reset our circadian rhythms which in turn promotes a more regular sleep and wake schedule.

Core Stability

It’s not all scientific benefits that get me outside, I enjoy the challenge of practicing while my mat is blowing around the garden and my dog is stealing my socks! The uneven surface on the slabs or grass is a great way to build core strength while I work on balance postures and my mind can’t stray far from the task at hand because the environment is constantly changing.

Maybe it is the ever-changing scenery which keeps me coming back to practicing outdoors? Apparently looking at beautiful scenery releases endorphins – another feel good hormone, which helps us feel happier and more at ease. But being outside seems to raise my awareness, it is a full sensory experience and there is no need for music as I settle into flowing to the backdrop of birds singing, dogs barking and neighbours chatting.  I feel so connected to everything around me, that it just feels like this is exactly what yoga is supposed to be about.

But it’s not just  yoga in my garden that boosts my happy hormones, I have had the pleasure of rolling my mat out in some beautiful spaces. Each has brought a unique experience to the familiarity of moving on my mat, and I treasure the memories of these times because of how happy they made me feel.

Rooftop Yoga

Over the next few weekends I will be fortunate to lead a yoga class in the beautiful outdoor Rooftop Garden at New Lanark World Heritage Centre. I taught a class there in July and the shifting perspective of sky and trees was awe inspiring. Later on I read that being in these types of surroundings can lower the concentration of cortisol – a stress hormone, encouraging a super-stress relief.

The view over the New Lanark site was beautiful and the distant sound of the Falls of Clyde in the background made for the ideal setting for an outdoor yoga session. If you’d like to join me over the next few Saturday mornings for stress-busting yoga outdoors, then book your space here. Spaces are limited and this is a one-time chance to experience yoga in a truly mesmerising location.