Wondering what to do on a sunny day in south London? Outdoor Yoga season is back every May-September in balmy Peckham! The heat, the movement, the open sky above you; outdoor yoga is undeniably one of the best things to do in Peckham this Summer. All the benefits of yoga + all the benefits of the great outdoors? Well, actually it’s even better than that. We all know that yoga’s good for you, and being outside is great too but doing both at once seems to not just stack, but multiply the benefits of each.
Better air, better breath.
Yoga, at its core, is a breath-led practice, so what better way to improve the quality of your practice than improving the quality of the air you breathe? Getting outside, and especially getting into a green space – like Peckham Bowls at Peckham Rye Park – can dramatically improve the quality of the air around you, nurturing the very roots of your practice.
Open your eyes to the possibilities.
Taking in wide, panoramic views, like the ones from our rooftop in Peckham (Rooftop Film Club at the Bussey Building), has been shown to not only relax your eyes, but encourage a knock-on effect through the rest of your body and nervous system. Looking at something intently switches on a stress-response, possibly linked to our ancestral need to recognise threats, and respond. In turn, widening the gaze to take in broad and open scenery can switch off this stress-response; helping us to relax to the fullest.
More sun! More fun!
Get a good dose of natural sunlight, increasing not only your natural Vitamin D uptake but also increasing serotonin – making you happier and healthier by aiding to balance your circadian rhythms. Early exposure to sunlight also leads to increased cortisol release in the morning, helping you to wake up naturally and enjoy a positive knock-on effect for your metabolism, immune system and overall focus.
Touch the grass, feel the love.
Yoga in the park has the unique option of enjoying the bare earth right there beneath your hands and feet. Robin Wall-Kimmerer, in her book Brading Sweetgrass, speaks about the healing effects of touching landscapes, revealing that this doesn’t occur just as a fanciful notion but has been shown to actually encourage the release of oxytocin (the love hormone). To paraphrase Robin Wall-Kimmerer, when we love the land, the land loves us back.
What’s the big idea?
When we combine all of the effects of simply being outside, they massively boost our yoga practice. Encouraging the release of serotonin, oxytocin alongside the dopamine and endorphins already released when we exercise leads to a stronger practice, and a greater ease when accessing presence.
So come join our outdoor yoga community in Peckham Rye, or on our Peckham rooftop this summer and allow yourself to relax deeper, breath more powerfully, feel more motivated and more connected to yourself, others, and the world around you.
Didn’t make it this summer? No worries. See you on the mat next year.
Find out more about Outdoor Yoga and see if it’s right for you.
*Yogarise offers a limited number of £5 Community Spaces for local Southwark residents on a low income. Get in touch hello@yogarise.london if this applies to you.
