Fitness & Weight Loss

You Really Should Get Out More - Yoga On The Beach

Oct 02 03:49pm

A harder body and a brighter outlook? That's enough to make us ditch the treadmill and rowing machine for the sun and fresh breezes.

Yogis will be leaner than ever from performing this workout on the sand.
By Paige Greenfield

WHY THERE? We love our sticky mats, Krishna Das soundtrack, and buckwheat eye pillow as much as the next downward-dogger, but taking your practice to the beach is more like what the original yogis intended more than 5,000 years ago. "Practicing on an uneven surface like sand builds the secondary muscles in your feet, hips, knees, and shoulder joints," says Sara Ivanhoe, a Vinyasa instructor at Yoga Works in Santa Monica, California. During this routine, press your feet and hands firmly into the sand and spread your fingers and toes to hit maximum lower-body muscle. Relax and enjoy. Just don't get so focused that you forget your SPF!

Check out our exclusive online workout:

Yoga On The Beach Workout

7 Comments Report Abuse

1. cheekyminx76 - Oct 08 01:47pm

Some positions are hard enough getting into....yoga on the sand? Maybe in a years time lol

2. scarboroughyoga - Oct 08 01:53pm

another fad to get attention. How is performance on the beach more like the manner in which Yoga was intended to be practiced? I love a play on the beach as much as the next coastal guy, but read the hatha yoga pradipika where it speaks of practice place and think about it. Sand in the eyes anyone?

3. kookydesigner - Oct 08 06:32pm

Problems: sand in the eyes when lifting feet and hands above head; curious people and dogs can be distracting; tradition states yoga should not be practised in sunlight; try balancing in trikonasana while gazing into blue sky, or worse, floating clouds. Bad idea all round.

4. willow101@y7mail.com - Oct 08 07:59pm

sounds lovely in theory not so easy in practice.

5. bek2nel - Nov 27 07:58pm

Agree with the sand in the eyes, plus excercise in public is not the greatest for me just yet! Another 5 kilo off and I may consider it.

6. margaretobrien77 - Jan 15 11:04am

There are now lots of outdoor yoga options held in parks around Sydney. Much easier then the beach! If you need some help finding one email info@oxygym.com.au

7. kay_murray68 - Apr 24 11:39am

My man and I went for a week's holiday to the Sunshine Coast in March. It was his idea to go to the beach to do yoga while watching the sunrise every morning! At least he made the coffee to take with us to drink while we were there! fell over in the sand a lot, but heaps of fun ;-)