Why Yoga Teacher Training in the Outdoors is so Important
There is a reason why heading outside makes us feel so good. Studies have shown that being in nature can improve our health, lower our stress levels, and increase happiness. Many of us naturally feel drawn outside when we have too much on our minds or need to work through something. Nature provides the quiet we need to face our doubts and fears and to find healing and serenity.
Nature has inspired yoga teachers and gurus from time immemorial. One of the most basic references to this are the names of many everyday yoga postures. Mountain, tree, half moon, cobra, lotus, crow, and bird of paradise, for example, all originated from the observance of nature. Surya namaskar, or sun salutation, literally worships the sun and gives thanks for its life giving energy.
In the hectic world that we live in today, many of us have lost this connection to the earth. We are caught up in our everyday tasks, feeling like we can’t keep up with our ever growing to do lists. Yoga helps us see that there is more to life than this, and that unplugging from this endless cycle of tasks is critical to our mental and spiritual health.
The best yoga teachers inspire their students to get in touch with their inner selves and discover what their own unique expression of life is rather than just going through the motions. These teachers, through example, inspire their students to make positive changes in themselves and in their lives. They are calm, present, kind, and radiate inner peace. To become the type of yoga teacher you admire, you need to dive deep within and connect with yourself. An outdoor yoga teacher training can help you do this.
Practicing yoga and meditation in the outdoors can help you find union with nature, humanity, the entire universe, and perhaps most importantly, your inner self. Having time to be you and to connect with yourself are crucial aspects of yoga teacher training because learning to be more connected with yourself can help you be more connected and present with your students.
The outdoors provides the expansive space we need to explore and connect with ourselves. A yoga teacher training in a beautiful outdoor setting will help you still your mind and find your inner peace which you can then share with your students. They will feel your radiance as you felt it in the inspirational teachers that came before you.
Imagine waking up every morning to the sound of birds singing with the sunrise. You walk outside and start your day by feeling the sun gently warm your skin as a soft breeze tousles your hair. You look up and see never ending blue sky. You look around and see vibrant flowers and swaying palms. You feel calm, present, peaceful, and connected to the world around you.
Being in nature is a meditative experience in itself, and being in nature while training to be a yoga teacher can be truly transformative.
“The great teachers through history traverse a varied landscape of culture and tradition – but nearly all have passed through and been strengthened by time alone in nature” –Anonymous (from the Yandara philosophy manual)
