Do As The Druids Did

FITNESS do as the druids did

LOVE THE OUTDOORS? WANT TO GET MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT IN TUNE? WYDA, A YOGA-LIKE PRACTICE OF THE ANCIENT CELTS, IS MAKING A BIG COMEBACK.

Don’t let your workout regimen be a “woulda, shoulda, coulda.” Instead, try Wyda! Pronounced wih-duh, it’s been around for thousands of years, having originated in Europe among the Celtic Druids. They developed it as a physical and spiritual practice, little suspecting that people in far-off India were creating the similar art we know as yoga. Like yoga, Wyda helps improve breathing and flexibility and relaxes the mind through a series of stretches and poses.

But Wyda has elements that differentiate it from its Indian counterpart. One is that for the full effect, it’s done outdoors, where the practitioner can “sync” his or her energies with nature. (A bonus for today: effective social distance!) Its physical, spiritual and emotional benefits are threefold, based on a trio of “energy fields” that aren’t discussed in traditional yoga teaching: the vital field in the navel area (the hormonal system), the emotional field in the chest (feelings and moods) and the mental field in the head (brain function and senses). The goal is to harmonize these three fields, creating internal and external balance through physical exercises and meditation. A blockage in any of these fields, it is believed, can cause stress and lead to health complications.

What do you need to get started? Well-fitting yoga clothes, a workout mat or blanket and a quiet outdoor spot, such a park or even your yard. A great beginner move is to spread your arms out to the sides and stretch your fingers, then move your arms in front of your chest and close your hands into fists that touch your chest. You can Google “Wyda yoga” for instructional videos (just hook up your tablet to the Wi-Fi outside!), or enroll in a course such as the one offered virtually on wydadruidsyoga.com, which is based in Europe and taught by a certified meditation coach who specializes in health and well-being. And because Wyda is easy on the joints, it isn’t ageist—older men and women can enjoy this holistic practice as readily as millennials.

If you want the full, immersive Wyda experience, book a trip to the Forestis in the Dolomites, a new luxury spa hotel in the South Tyrolean mountainscape of Italy, which made Conde Nast Traveler’s 2021 Hot List. The goal at this resort is for guests to envelop themselves in the power of nature, with a slew of outdoor activities such as hiking and biking. Among the amenities there is a modern Wyda room (just in case inclement weather doesn’t let you do your workout outside), which boasts the most stunning of settings. Ah, self-care at its finest.

As with any form of exercise, the more you do it, the more you’ll get out of it. The Druids supposedly did Wyda daily, but of course they had no cellphones. With the busy lifestyles and technological distractions of the 21st century, a few times a week is more plausible. Practicing Wyda regularly could boost your metabolism and clear your mind—besides strengthening your body overall—if you’d give it a try.

So, how about it—wouldya?