Snow Yoga: Having Fun In The Snow!

My beautiful two-year-old nephew inspires today’s post all about Snow Yoga. My sister sent me a lovely video of my nephew exploring the snow in the back garden and his wondrous facial expressions as he touched the cold, wet snow and how he listened intently to the sound of the crunchy snow beneath his feet were priceless and it got me thinking how when we were kids we used to love going out and playing in the snow and just exploring but as adults we seem to have lost that sense of fun.

Snow Yoga is a great way to get a bit of that playfulness back into our lives, I mean when was the last time we got out there and had fun in the snow? We all know that being outside gives us a chance to connect with nature and of course there are risks attached when you do any kind of yoga outdoors in any weather but if you take the necessary precautions to stay safe the benefits can far outweigh the risks.

What are the benefits of Snow Yoga?

There have been numerous studies over the years that have focused on the positive impact an exposure to nature can have on our mental wellbeing and when you combine this with the physical benefits of exercising outdoors it makes sense to give it a try. Snow yoga like all yoga helps you stay focused. The soft, uneven surface can be challenging so you really have to work at staying centered and present whilst also being aware of your surroundings.

Snow yoga is also a good way of topping up your Vitamin D. In the winter months our vitamin D levels tend to drop quite significantly because we don’t get enough exposure to sunlight so taking our practice outside can really help increase our vitamin D levels which is so important for our immune system and for bone growth and repair.

What do you have to watch out for?

The cold! Cold weather causes our muscles to contract and this makes our joints tighter and our muscles have to work a little harder to get into and maintain a posture. The cold weather also narrows our blood vessels so it’s really important to dress warmly. Wear lots of warm layers and wear sensible boots. It might be tempting to go out there in bare feet but you don’t want to get frostbite or hypothermia so thermal socks and a good pair of boots with plenty of grip will help you get the most out of practicing in the snow.

As we all know where there’s snow there’s likely to be ice so be aware of your surroundings and factor in the wind and wind chill factor before you venture outside. It’s hard enough to balance in this type of weather and the last thing you want is a gust of wind or a snow flurry knocking you off your feet.

What poses can I do in the snow?

It goes without saying that inversions are probably ones to avoid. I would probably stick with standing poses in the first instance, Tadasana (Mountain Pose); Vrikshasana (Tree Pose); Trikonasana (Triangle Pose); Virabhadasana (Warrior I) and Virabhadasana Warrior II) are a few of my favourites and if you want to try something a little more challenging there’s always Natarajasana (Lord Of The Dance Pose).

Whatever pose or poses you decide to do even if its just going out there and standing in Tadasana and concentrating on your breath, whatever you do be mindful of your body, your environment and your own limits and limitations and above all be safe and have some fun!