Namaste at the Beach

Namaste at the Beach By Michelle Seifert

Rosemary Beach Fitness Yoga instructor, Michelle Seifert, offers a few tips to get the most out of your yoga practice—at the beach!

Finding that perfect space to practice at the beach Find a nice, quiet, comfortable space preferably facing the sunshine or that amazing body of water. Close your eyes. Take a few moments and allow the warmth of the sunshine to warm the outside of your body.

Establish your “Foundation” Ditch the yoga mat and just feel the sand beneath your bare feet. Seriously, spread your toes as wide as you can and really feel the sand between and around your toes. Finding this foundation with the lower body and the earth is called Pada Bandha or foot “lock.” This is where all standing yoga poses begin.

Just Breathe Yoga is all about the breath so listen to the sounds of the waves and let your breath and the waves bring you into the present moment. Maybe even match the rhythm of your breath with the rhythm of the waves. This would be your yoga breath or ujjayi breath. Ujjayi breathing is used to warm the body from the inside out. You’ve taken the time at the beginning to warm the outside of your body with that amazing ball of energy (sunshine) now you begin to warm the body from the inside out with your breath.

Physical Practice Once you’ve found your spot, have a nice steady rhythm with your breath and have a strong foundation with your lower body and the earth, you’re ready to begin the physical part of your practice. Maybe do a few sun salutations in between your favorite asanas or just do your favorite balance pose. This is your practice. This is your time.

Quieting the Mind After the physical part of your practice is Savasana. This to me is the most important asana in yoga. This can either be done lying flat on your back with eyes closed for a few minutes or maybe take a short meditative walk on the beach. Just finding that place where you begin to quiet that chatter in your mind. Chitta vritti nirodha: quieting the fluctuations of the mind with the breath. This, my beach friends, is Yoga.

About the Author Michelle Seifert, E-RYT 200 and E-RYT 500 Michelle began practicing yoga in 1999 and has loved teaching since 2004. She likes to create a safe, non-competitive space for her students to “dive” deeper beneath the surface of their daily lives. Her desire is simply to inspire others to find balance in their lives, to exercise their mind and body and to have as much love and passion for life as they can. Michelle has found her yoga home at the Rosemary Beach Fitness Center where, with the combination of her two favorite things, yoga and the beach, she is definitely living her best life. Namaste'.