There's no doubt that yoga has become incredibly popular in the West, with more and more centers, gyms, and private practitioners offering classes, retreats, seminars, courses, and more. Yoga, this ancient practice, captivates everyone who tries it. And it's no wonder! The reasons for its popularity are numerous: physical exercise, breathwork, connecting with our emotions and feelings, and enjoying our surroundings with full awareness, respecting and appreciating them. So today, we're going to dedicate a special segment to our beloved yoga and explore exactly what it is and what its benefits are in a natural setting.
What is Yoga?
Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha
This is the explanation found in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and that, more precisely, explains the meaning of yogaA fairly accurate translation could be "yoga is the tool to stop the fluctuations of the mind," allowing the Yogi (the Yoga practitioner) to reach their true self and fully live in the present moment. It is a way of life, a path of spiritual growth that follows eight fundamental steps, a progressive series of stages or disciplines that purify the body, mind, and spirit, leading the Yogi toward enlightenment (toward a healthy and truly happy life). These eight steps are:
Basic Concepts of Yoga
1. YamasSocial disciplines that guide us in our interactions with others. They must be practiced and developed in the body, but more importantly, in the spirit. All must be practiced through word, thought, and deed. They are divided into five moral precepts:
- ahimsanon-violence
- Satyamveracity
- Brahmacharya, moderation in everything (avoid excesses)
- AsteyaDo not steal
- Aparigraha, not covet
2. NiyamasThese are more personal, related to how we interact with ourselves, and are divided into:
- Sauchapurity, internal and external cleanliness
- Santoshacontentment
- Tapasausterity
- Swadhyaya, study of sacred texts
- Ishwara PranidhanaIt is about constantly living with awareness of the divine presence.
3. Asanas: positions
4. Pranayama: regulation or control of breathing / Prana
5. PratyaharaIn this state, it is about being able to control the senses, the ability to close the senses to external stimuli and withdraw them from objects.
6. DharanaConcentration, when it is achieved dhana, leads us to the next step Dhyan.
7. DhyanaMeditation is the state of pure thought and absorption in the object of meditation, in Dhyan There is still duality. When it is perfected, Dhyan leads to the final step Samadhi.
8. Samadhi: ultimate goal, a state of super-consciousness. In Samadhi Non-duality or unity is experienced. This is the deepest and highest state of consciousness, where the body and mind have been transcended and the Yogi is one with the Self or God.
So we can affirm that Yoga is not a sport, or a pretty pose for taking a nice picture; as we have seen, Yoga postures are only a very small part of this path, one more tool that helps us reach our final goal, the Samadhi.
Benefits of Yoga in Nature
If you've ever tried a yoga class, you'll have noticed that instructors do their best to create an atmosphere of soft lighting, soothing sounds, and even incorporating aromatherapy; these environments evoke nature and the outdoors. It's safe to assume, then, that the opportunity to practice yoga outdoors is an experience that leaves no one indifferent. After all, if the "recreated" formula works so well... what can we expect from the live, in-person version!
Enjoying an outdoor yoga session can be just what we need to reconnect with our inner selves, break free from routine, and feel at one with our surroundings, of which we are an essential part, just as they are an essential part of us. Being outdoors allows us to intensify the experience in many ways. Nature has the enormous power to inspire all the sensations that are so difficult to achieve at home: deep breathing, awareness, stillness… A gentle breeze, for example, can help us deepen our breath. Meanwhile, the warmth of the sun relaxes our muscles, making them more flexible.
Discover the benefits of Yoga with Nortour Shipping
If we have already convinced you, or if your curiosity has been piqued, we offer you the possibility of trying a Yoga class with us, discovering its benefits in a unique environment, a protected natural space where it will be easier to reconnect with nature.
Source: Yoga Journal, Anotherwayf and Breaking Muscle.
With a background in Reiki since 2002 and professional training in Sound Therapy and Meditation, Eva is our Yoga Alliance-certified Hatha and Vinyasa yoga teacher. After many years of practice, she received her Hatha Yoga certification in Barcelona and subsequently her Vinyasa and Ashtanga Yoga certifications in Rishikesh, the world capital of yoga. She also trained directly with Professor Xuan Lan, specializing in Vinyasa Yoga. As a teacher, she shares her knowledge with love and passion, guiding her students to a higher state of awareness of their body, mind, and spirit. Her classes are inspiring and suitable for all levels.
