A few weeks ago, I wrote about a recent trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia. During my four-day visit, there was such a poor internet connection at the hostel where I was staying, I could not upload a 10-second video to YouTube, let alone stream a class on Zoom. So, on my final night there, I walked 40 minutes to a local park that I had scoped out earlier in the day, set up my tripod, and streamed a Yin class, giving my students a full view of sailboats in the bay sailing through an orange cone slalom course with the setting sun as a backdrop. To obtain that view, I had to position myself close to a walking trail. Although we did catch some snippets of pedestrian conversation, it was a lovely evening until it became completely dark due to the two-hour time difference between the Maritime provinces and the Midwest CST. But then, they know what I look like.
Practicing Yoga out of doors is mostly overrated. Harsh - but true. People talk about it as if it would be the ultimate experience of Yogic bliss if they only had time to consider where to do it and then get themselves there. (translation: “my deck really needs a power wash, and the dog has turned the backyard into its personal toilet.”) Even the best intentions combined with prior recon give you little control in the end.
I say all of this from personal experience and write about it in my book How to Practice and Teach Restorative Yoga.
Despite my previous outdoor teaching experience and residual euphoria from the lovely seaside class in Halifax that Friday night, I got all optimistic (miracles sometimes happen) firmly declaring to myself and my students that henceforth Friday nights would be livestreamed from Memorial Park’s rose garden - where I planned to be for the next few weeks. The following Friday night it rained, and last Friday - this happened:
I did not need to do any recon of Memorial Park because I grew up in the neighborhood and run/walk through the rose garden multiple times per week when I’m in town. Unlike most parks, there is no parking lot. It has a long, U-shaped drive where cars can park to the right side. The rose garden and memorials are on a rise with most of the park sloping downward, making it a wonderful place to go sledding. (Digression: Back in the 80s when I was careening down those hills as a kid unsupervised, we expertly dodged the trees, lest we be concussed or killed. Now the park authorities (?) bank the trees with haybales.) When I pulled into the park entrance, I noticed that the entire road-loop was filled with parked cars - even in the “no parking” areas. That meant one thing: an outdoor wedding event.
There was no time for me to go back home before class was to begin - plus, Ruth said she might turn up. The rose garden was overtaken by milling people and a band, so I set up rose garden-adjacent behind tall grass plantings and a nine-foot cement memorial plaque and proceeded to listen to a rendition of (You Look) Wonderful Tonight, complete with saxophone.
Since I was hidden behind a monolith, Ruth couldn’t find me and appeared on camera for class from somewhere else in the park. During class, 1) a toddler appeared from in front of the monolith; 2) a bee landed on my stationery foot in half dead bug pose, and 3) ants seemed determined to crawl on me. It was a beautiful evening though, with the sunset, a nice breeze, and butterflies flying overhead.
Here are some tips for outdoor mat practice, whether Yoga, Tai-chi, or overnight camping:
Know your tree. Do not park yourself under a walnut, apple, pear, or Osage Orange tree. Bahama vacation? Avoid palm trees. A coconut could kill you.
Know your park. Are there golf balls flying at or over your head? Place your mat elsewhere.
Crickets, cicadas, birdsong, babbling brooks = good. Industrial noise, train whistles, barking dogs, lawn mowers, and leaf blowers = not so good.
Overall, have fun teaching or practicing in outdoor spaces. If you are a teacher, think about what your students will be looking at. As I stated before, they know what you look like - they only need to hear your voice - so point the camera at a beautiful sunset or nature scene. Practitioners - use your deck, yard, patio, or terrace for practice on a lovely day. And remember - you can point your camera at a favorite nature scene for your teacher and fellow students to enjoy. We already know what you look like, too.
Beautiful.
Spotify: You Look Wonderful Tonight
Blessings & Love,
