LOCALadk Magazine
Issue link: https://localadkmagazine.uberflip.com/i/277180
To be safe from injury, it is recommended that you initially incorporate poses and movements you understand and are comfortable with. Begin by practicing stillness and embracing the elements. If it's muddy, set the mat aside and feel the earth between your toes. If it's windy, notice the poses as you face into the breeze, then try it with the wind at your back; feel the power of nature and embrace that power. On your next hike, try sitting still at the summit of a mountain after your snack and water break, with no cell phone, no camera, and practice breathing with your full awareness. This is a great place to try "Pranayama", the Sanskrit word for breathing exercises, to calm fluctuations of the mind. A simple exercise is to count a consistent pace for your breathing: inhale, retain your breath, exhale. Start with a count of three and work your way up to ten. Other natural applications for yoga postures, or "Asanas", include specific relief for your body during prolonged repetitive activities such a hiking with a heavy pack or paddling for hours on end. Try a forward bend and back bend in your canoe or kayak and hold your paddle across your back for a spinal twist each way for several breaths. For hikers, place your backpack on the ground, kneel at either side of it, and fold around it in the grounding comfort of a supported child's pose. You can try a downward dog pose in the soft spring grass; with its bright green vitality and fragrant smell, grass can anchor your hands and feet with the stability of a textured yoga mat. Keep in mind that the outdoor practice may not be a set or choreographed sequence, but instead is informed by what you come across on your path. You may be hiking a path faster than a friend and, instead of standing and waiting, find a moss-covered log and recline, wrap your chest around it, look up at the sky, and feel your heart opening. In being open to what nature has to offer and staying connected to the moment, the possibilities for yoga practices are limitless and beg you to notice not only what is going on inside of you, but also all around you. Mim Frantz is a Lake Placid based Registered Yoga Teacher and outdoor enthusiast. You may find Frantz on the summit of a mountain in lotus pose or inverted on a boulder beside a raging river., Wellness | LOCALadk