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6 reasons yoga is better outdoors - and even better on holiday

Find your Zen with outdoor yoga on holiday.
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of practising your Downward Facing Dog in the local park or in your garden, you’ll already know that yoga was made for the great outdoors. But have you ever tried it on holiday? Here are six reasons you should take your yoga mat outside, or – better yet – on holiday…

IT'S YOGA - BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

It seems yoga is going through a bit of a renaissance. The practice – a way of living that incorporates mental, physical and spiritual elements – originated in India thousands of years ago. But these days, yoga classes in their most basic, physical sense have never looked so different. Nor have they ever been so popular, in a digital age where mindfulness is the word of the moment.

ALTERNATIVE YOGA CLASSES

Today, not only can you choose what type of yoga you want to do – from Hatha to Ashtanga – but you can put a new spin on an old classic. Think hot yoga, where you sweat out toxins, and aerial yoga, where you’re mainly upside-down. And at the weirder end of the scale, the likes of rage yoga, where you shout expletives throughout – yes, really – and glow-in-the-dark yoga have recently made their way onto the scene.

THE CASE FOR OUTDOOR YOGA

It’s not just the type of yoga that’s changing, though – it’s the location. Yoga is moving out of the dark, dusty school gym and into, well, wherever you want to do it. You can now get your chakras aligned in a spot of pre-flight yoga – or floga – at Gatwick Airport’s yoga lounge, for example.

TOP TIPS FOR YOGA OUTDOORS ON YOUR TUI HOLIDAY

For the ultimate relaxed experience, though, it’s got to be yoga outdoors, and on holiday. Here’s why outdoors + holidays = best yoga ever.

1. TWO WORDS. SUN SALUTATIONS

It’s hard to salute the sun when it’s 8pm on a winter’s evening in your local scout hut, right? But outdoors, on holiday, the odds of seeing some sun are stacked pretty well in your favour. Your Sun Salutations will never be the same again.

Try… a Sun Salutation class at one of our ROBINSON resorts. These sessions are usually held outdoors and always take place at sunrise, so you can start the day on the right foot. Literally.

2. YOU CAN REALLY BE AT ONE WITH NATURE

Indoors, the only nature available is likely to be a pot plant. But take your tree pose outdoors and you’re surrounded by nature, which is exactly as yoga should be. All together now, exhale…

3. YOU CAN GET A TAN AT THE SAME TIME

Practise yoga outdoors on holiday and you won’t just be glowing from the inside when you’ve finished – you’ll have topped up your tan, too. Now that’s our kind of multitasking.

4. YOU CAN DO IT WITH THE SAND BETWEEN YOUR TOES

If you’re a keen yogi and you don’t fancy an organised class, just unroll your mat or your towel on a beach and get started. For an added level of difficulty, do it straight on the sand. Because of the constantly shifting ground beneath your feet, your core muscles will get an even deeper workout. Plus, you can cool off in the sea afterwards.

Try… one of Ibiza’s beautiful beaches. The White Isle’s mellow, hippy roots make it the best place for a spot of al fresco stretching, so nobody will bat an eyelid.

5. YOU'VE GOT ENDLESS SPACE

Forget fighting for space in your local sports hall, or poking the lady next to you as you perfect your warrior pose. Outdoors you can spread out to your heart’s content, and try out some more advanced poses without the worry of wobbling into your neighbour.

Try… one of Goa’s exotic beaches. It doesn’t get much more authentic than a beachfront session in yoga’s heartland, and you certainly won’t be battling for space on the huge sandy stretches along the south coast.

6. IT'S STILL FUN AFTER DARK

At home, evening yoga probably finishes up with a mad dash home to catch the latest episode of Gogglebox. But on holiday, saying Namaste doesn’t have to spell the end of your night – book in to a sunset session and it’s just the beginning.

Try… Candlelight Yoga at TUI SENSATORI Resort Turkey. For these evening sessions the platform is lit with flickering candles and a guitarist provides an unplugged soundtrack. It’s the perfect way to start a chilled-out evening.
Inspired to try out some outdoor yoga?

Take a look at all our holidays and have a go at our step-by-step guide to the perfect Sun Salutation.

Fancy a closer look at our TUI-designed hotels? Explore our virtual resort.

Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.

Author: Katie Gregory

Last Updated: 15.06.2016

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