I need fresh air. and to get my hands dirty, and my bare feet in the grass. I need my yoga classes outdoors! Thankfully my friend Bri offers an amazing assortment of classes we can do outside. I did horse yoga with her and loved it!
What Is Horse Yoga?
Many people think of goat yoga when I mention horse yoga. Goat yoga is actually getting quite popular. Baby goats have open access to the students during the practice. They wander around the area and sometimes climb onto a student’s back during their poses.
Horse yoga is similar; yet without the horses climbing up on the students! The horses are on a lead and they wander throughout the class area and enjoy their endless supply of grass in the ring. They do get close enough to you where you can reach out and touch them if you wish.
I had a perfect photo opp when I was in my Savasana pose at the end of the class and I heard a horse munching on the grass near me. I opened my eyes to find this cute face looking at me!
What are the Benefits of Horse Yoga?
Combining nature, animals and yoga is a wonderful recipe for relaxation and healing. The classes are held at Equine Expressions. This is a horse farm that provides therapy with horses. The horses help people work through many conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, and many more. To learn more about what Equine Expressions offers, visit their website for information.
The combination of nature and animals with yoga goes together so well! Horses are spiritual animals, and yoga is a spiritual practice so it just makes sense to combine the two for a wonderful experience.
Doing yoga with animals like horses, is so good for your mind and your mood. Having a yoga class outdoors is a great way to find something deeper in you. It is fun, and doing yoga with animals is even more fun!
Having your feet in the grass and being in the fresh air is very good for your microbiomes. We spend so much time in front of screens, so it is important to unplug and move your body. Twist out the tension, slow down your breathing and listen. I love when we are starting the practice with our eyes closed, listening to the sounds around us, feeling the breeze and the sun on our skin, and smelling the scents of the farm.
The other benefit I get out of horse yoga, and yoga outdoors is the benefit of what working out in the heat offers. It’s summer here now, so when we have our classes, it’s warm out. The warm sun and the air helps me sweat out my stress and also helps me get a better stretch because I am warmer so I can loosen up a little more. I have never tried Bikram yoga; but Bri mentioned that we are doing yoga similar to that when we do our outdoor classes.
Visiting The Horses
After the class is over, we are given the opportunity to wander around the farm. This is one of my favorite parts of class because I love taking photos. I saw the perfect photo opportunity with Bri’s daughter visiting one of the horses. It looked like she and the horse were sharing a funny story.
Are You Interested In Trying it?
Bri will be holding more outdoor classes this summer, including yoga in the vineyard and sunrise and sunset yoga at Hubbard Park. Check out her Bhogah Yoga Facebook page for the schedule.