Sunny days are common in Andalusia, and with them we want all kinds of outdoor activities, such as running, skating, cycling … or why not? Do yoga on the beach . If you belong to this last group, maybe you could come well to take a look at these ten points that should be taken into account before practicing this activity that relaxes body and mind.
1. WHAT IS YOGA?
The word yoga comes from Sanskrit and means “union .” Union of body and mind, union of being with the universe. In general, in all the paths of yoga what is sought is to reach a spiritual development or state of ‘enlightenment’. In the case of hatha yoga – one of the most widespread types of yoga in the West – this state of enlightenment we refer to is achieved through intense work with the body; work that, of course, can also be done on the beach.
2. BEST TIME TO PRACTICE ON THE BEACH
Unless you are a disciple of bikram yoga (40 aC yoga), the ideal temperature to practice this activity is from 19 to 22˚C. Therefore, depending on the month of the year and the place where you are, try to choose the time of the day that maintains this approximate temperature. During the hottest months, the ideal is to practice during the first hours of the morning or the last hours of the afternoon. Remember to also bring a sweatshirt or warm clothes with which to cover yourself at the end of the sequence, during the relaxation, since it is usual to feel a little cold.
3. ALWAYS WITH SUNSCREEN
Even if you are going to do the practice early in the morning, do not underestimate the power of Surya, god of the Sun, who enlightens us, vivifies us, and as we neglect, will also burn us. During the practice of yoga it is quite common to achieve an intense state of relaxation and concentration that can make you forget the clock. Just in case, it does not hurt to put on sunscreen.
4. FLATTEN THE TERRAIN
Many of the asanas or yoga postures require a large dose of balance. Therefore, before starting your yoga session on the beach, make sure that the area you have chosen is as flat as possible, or else you might have certain difficulties when doing postures such as vriksasana (tree posture) or sirshasana (posture) over the head). Of course, if you fall, surely the sand cushions the fall and the chances of you hurting yourself.
5. DO NOT EAT BEFORE PRACTICE
Avoid eating before practicing yoga; if anything, something very light, a small snack. But in any case it is advisable to carry out the practice of yoga after an abundant breakfast, lunch or dinner. Especially one should avoid the practice of inverted postures such as sirshasana (posture on the head), sarvangasana (posture on the shoulders) and halasana (the plow or posture of cervical flexion) during a heavy digestion.
6. CONCENTRATE, BETTER ON QUIET BEACHES
Concentration is one of the key points to obtain an optimal experience of yoga practice. Therefore, although it is sometimes complicated, try to choose a beach away from the madding crowd. As much as you are an expert in the technique of pratyahara (abstraction of the senses), you can hardly abstract from the cries of wild children playing sand balls.
7. CONNECTS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT
The elevated purpose of reaching a state of union with the universe is much more attainable in a natural environment such as the beach. Take the opportunity to connect with the sound of the waves, with the sound of birds, with the beat of the ocean. They are primal sounds, they have been there since the beginning of time. That is why, when we listen to them, our cells remember those sounds and synchronize with the rhythms of the universe. And when we synchronize with the rhythms of the universe, we feel full of life and energy.
8. RELAX
If you practice yoga regularly, I am sure that your teacher or professor has proposed to you in some relaxation to visualize a natural environment such as a forest, a mountain, or the sunset on a beach. And this, without a doubt, is the great advantage of practicing yoga in a natural environment: you do not have to imagine anything, you just have to sharpen your senses, feel the sea breeze while doing the sun salutation, smell the odors of saltpeter and iodine while you are in the posture of the cobra. And of course, immerse yourself in a deep and intense relaxation without the need for anyone to guide you or offer you visualizations, just listen to the waves breaking on the shore.
9. TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE “NUDIST YOGA”
If you choose a nudist beach as a place for your yoga practice, you can take advantage of this to carry out one of the most avant-garde modalities of this discipline: nudist yoga. This yoga modality was born in the 1960s in the United States with the “hippy” movement and has recently been put into practice by a gym in New York. The objective, they say, is to offer students a new way of celebrating their bodies without the intention of producing a sexual evocation; the students, in this way, get more out of the classes and feel closer to their own nature, to their authentic “I”.
10. MEDITATE
Meditation is the key to our inner peace, to our greatness as human beings. Meditation also helps us to coexist with a clearer and more skillful mind when dealing with toxic or negative emotions and to encourage positive emotions. Therefore, take advantage of the fact that you are in the perfect environment and reserve a few minutes (or a good time) to meditate. Situate yourself in the lotus, half-lotus or cross-legged posture, make sure your back is straight, bring the chin slightly closer to the chest and bring attention to the nostrils, to the breath. If any thought comes to your mind, let it go, let it go, and immediately after, bring your attention back to your breathing.
