Beach Lifestyle Archives - Page 5 of 5

Beach yoga harnesses the power of nature to restore balance in your life energies. When balanced, these three energies work harmoniously to create stability of mind and body. Beach yoga is a holistic method of self-care. It restores the imbalances in the mind and body and provides a direct connection to the replenishing energies supplied by nature. Elements of Beach Yoga Any body of water, be it ocean, lake, or river, can be used for practicing beach yoga. What’s important is properly using the tools of yoga that improve both mind and body and combining them with the rejuvenating energy nature provides. Beach yoga is the quintessential way to build strength, improve balance, and invigorate your mind and body. Beach yoga uses the power of nature to create greater awareness of self. It helps in the detoxification of the body and the mind. It provides a calming stillness with its steady rhythm that eases the tension and anxieties of life. Practitioners of beach yoga become unified with the earth. They gain a better appreciation of nature and a deeper understanding of humanity. The elements found in nature, water, air, earth, and the fiery sun, correspond with the life energies found in the philosophies of yoga. By understanding the roles these elements play in the health of living things, beach yoga has found a universal system for repairing the mind and body. Knowing the relationship of the elements and energies makes it clear to the yoga practitioner what steps they need to take to regain balance. Water Master healer, Carol Tuttle, believes that the sounds of the water emulate the experience we had while in the safety and comfort of the womb. The soothing sounds of the waves lapping at the shore create a slow and steady rhythm. This consistent beat is reminiscent of the mother’s heartbeat, soft and soothing. Looking out over the endless water opens the mind to the vastness of our world. It uncaged our trapped spirit and reminds us of our desire to live our life with purpose. It is a symbol that honors the bravery it takes to conquer the unknown waters of life, the search for contentment. Air Breathing in fresh air is vital to both mental and physical health. As opposed to recycled air when inside a yoga studio, fresh outside air provides purity that helps to remove toxins in the body. Our brains function at much higher levels when we breathe in the clean, fresh air, especially the salty breezes coming from the sea. Salty air improves the body’s ability to produce serotonin and melatonin The substance serotonin, known as neurotransmitters, plays a very important role in the functioning of most body systems. Everything from regulation of emotions to healthy digestion is affected by the levels of serotonin found in your gut. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the wake/sleep cycle known as circadian rhythm. It is released by the pineal gland and is highly influenced by the light of day and the darkness of night. It’s not uncommon to find most beach yoga instructors hold classes at sunrise and sunset for just this reason. Breathing in the salty sea air is beneficial to the respiratory system as well as the circulatory system. It strengthens the body’s immunity and even has positive effects on the health of your skin. Inside each breath of sea air are tiny droplets containing beneficial elements such as enriched salt, magnesium, and iodine. Earth/Sand Practicing yoga on the moving surface of the sand increases the workout of the muscles being used in the various positions. The tactile sensations of the grains of sand and bits of seashells underfoot stimulate your awareness. Feeling the earth beneath you through the sensitive network of receptors does more than you could have imagined. Being barefoot literally plugs your central nervous system into the Earth’s electrical grid. The bottom of your foot is a complex system of nerve endings designed to collect the free electrons emitting from the ground. Much in the same way electricians use the earth to ground the wiring of a home, you become grounded when you’re barefoot, especially on the damp sand of the shore. Practicing beach yoga with bare feet in direct contact with the sand is one of the easiest ways to recharge your life energies. Once in your body, these free electrons go to work cleaning out the muck in your blood. They detoxify and reduce inflammation. The results, free-flowing healthier blood rejuvenated by nature. Getting reconnected to the Earth’s power supply through barefoot contact with the ground has been shown to have a positive impact on the sleep cycle. Studies have also linked barefoot grounding to reduced pain. Holistic cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra believes a myriad of modern-day illnesses is linked to our detachment from these free electrons. Fire of the Sun Beach yoga at sunrise and sunset offers more than just a boost to melatonin. Exposure to sunlight is the easiest way to obtain the most essential of vitamins, D3. This vitamin is a primary component of bone health and calcium levels. It is a vital player in immune health and moderating blood sugars. Practicing beach yoga on a sunny day can help reduce blood pressure levels and cardiovascular problems. This occurs because the sunlight triggers a reaction in the body that causes your skin to expel nitrogen oxides. Releasing these built-up gases causes the dilation of your arteries helping to lower blood pressure. Sun-filled beach yoga is ideal for obtaining a healthy dose of the UVB rays most widely known for their feel-good properties. These rays are what ward of Seasonal Affective Disorder that occurs from lack of sunlight. UVB rays are also responsible for generating the production of beta-endorphins, a pain-reducing hormone. Looking for a new activity to try around the beach? See if paragliding or parasailing is right for you here. Beachy-Keen Schools of Yoga One of the greatest aspects of yoga is the endless combinations of poses and sequences. It has all levels of difficulty from beginning to master level. Beach yoga is suitable for any style that works for you. Instructors typically adopt a particular school of yoga, most using one of the following. Hatha Yoga A popular style popping up around the United States, this school of yoga consists of slow-paced movements paired with deep breathing techniques. The practitioner’s primary focus is on proper body alignment. Instructors use detailed guidance of body posture as they lead through the series of poses. Mindfulness of the body’s positions and movements paired with proper breathing lowers feelings of stress and anxiety. Starting your morning with a session of Hatha yoga at sunrise is the perfect way to sharpen your mind before that big meeting. Catching a sunset session after a stressful event is a healthy way to decompress and unwind. Hatha beach yoga is beneficial to the 3 body systems that make up your body balance. The visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems work together to maintain your body balance. The vestibular system is the workings of the inner ear and brain while the somatosensory deals with sensations of movement, pressure, pain, and temperature. Ashtanga In opposition to the previous style, Ashtanga is a high-endurance style that moves at a faster pace. It requires the practitioner to have acute strength and exquisite flexibility. In addition, it requires the individual to possess profound endurance. Ashta represents the Sanskrit word for the number 8. The word anga is defined as a limb, branch, or body part. Together, ashtanga represents the holistic system consisting of the 8 branches of yoga. I. Moral Codes II. Self-discipline III. Posture IV. Breath Control V. Sense Withdrawal VI. Concentration VII. Meditation VIII. Oneness with Self Beach yoga that utilizes Ashtanga yoga builds upon your upper body strength. It works to increase your power and physical endurance. It’s perfect for improving your cardiovascular endurance as well. Slow and audible breathing techniques accompany Ashtanga yoga. Long deep breaths in and out help to warm the body and enliven the mind for intense focus. Concentration for optimal meditation is achieved through the use of a focal point during each posture. Vinyasa Flow This free-flowing series of poses pairs the pattern of breathing in conjunction with the changing of position. Breath is taken in during the first position. The exhale is released as you move into the second position. The pace for Vinyasa flow yoga can be fast or slow, making it the most versatile of styles. A fast-paced session is great for building energy. A Vinyasa flow beach yoga session of a slower pace is ideal for relaxation and decompressing after a stressful day. ★ Basic Series of Poses Plank Knees, Chest, Chin Cobra Downward Facing Dog ★ Advanced Series of Poses Plank Chaturanga Dandasana Upward Facing Dog Downward Facing Dog Dosha Energies of Beach Yoga Living things are alive because of life energies. When these energies are in balance, life runs pretty smoothly. If one or more life energies are out of balance, things start to go awry. Yoga refers to these life energies as doshas. In yoga, there are 3 different life energies: Pitta, Vata, and Kapha. Each dosha has corresponding elements of nature associated with it of various combinations. The elements of water, air, earth, fire, and ether bring balance and order back to their respective life energies. For clarity, ether as defined in terms of yoga refers to space in the sense of the place that holds the other four elements. Some refer to ether as the spirit of the living being. Others associate it with consciousness. Beach yoga is the optimal tool for restoring balance to your doshas because it provides access to all of the recharging elements of nature. Each of the different life energies has a specific function in the health of your mind and body. While we have all three life energies within us, we all have a primary dosha at our core. Pitta Elements: Fire and Water Energy of Ability to Digest: mental knowledge biological sustenance awareness Fire represents the combustion of materials to warm the body: sunlight food digestion breakdown of fat Water represents blood flow and the distribution of nutrients throughout the body. Body Functions: heart health optimal digestion comprehension critical thinking accurate senses Vata Elements: Air and Ether Energy of Ability to Move: winds of body motion forces of motivation adaptability Smooth navigation of thoughts, emotions, and actions. Body Functions: nervous system skeletal system sense of touch sense of hearing Represents homeostasis of space, creativity, and energy. Balance of ambulation, keen senses, and mental processing. Kapha Elements: Water and Earth Energy of Ability to Bind: hold together and in control of emotions balance of mental and physical endurance patience, empathy, and compassion Water and earth mixed in accurate proportions create mud that is stronger than the loose dirt and water of which it’s comprised. Body Functions: growth & nourishment sleep & regeneration fat regulation strength & stamina memory anabolic changes compassion Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a legal expert or medical professional to address your specific needs.