Ever wanted a yoga studio of your own? With an outdoor yoga garden, it’s possible to practice your sun salutations and vinyasa routine in the comfort of your own backyard. Read on to learn how to create a yoga garden and the benefits of garden yoga practice.
Why create a yoga garden?
Outdoor yoga doesn’t only feel great in the moment. It’s also great for you long-term. Both yoga and time outdoors offer plenty of health benefits, from reducing stress to improving balance, memory, and body image.
It’s also more enjoyable. Does it sound more fun to stretch out in the garden with a gorgeous view, or pack into an indoor studio and stare at a blank wall? According to an NIH study, taking your exercise routine outside can result in exercising for longer because you’re having a better time.
With an outdoor yoga garden, you’ll be able to get all these benefits in your own backyard. Once you create your own yoga garden, you’ll be able to stretch out in a special space for yoga practice that’s right at your doorstep.
Basic principles of a yoga garden
When you set out to start an outdoor yoga garden, keep in mind your goals for the space and the way you want to feel while you’re in it. Here are a few guiding principles to keep in mind while you design your yoga garden.
Privacy
It’s hard to get into the zone for a few yoga asanas if you feel like you’re surrounded by nosy neighbors. Your yoga garden should be a peaceful retreat away from prying eyes, so be sure to consider privacy. Large floral bushes like hydrangeas provide a calming backdrop, as do trees like oaks and arborvitae, but you can also consider a pergola with curtains or a privacy screen.
Comfort
Garden yoga may become difficult if your savasana leaves you lying in the dirt, swatting at bugs, or sweating in the sun. Keep comfort in mind while brainstorming garden design ideas so that you can stretch into your yoga postures peacefully. Consider amenities such as a deck or patio, shade sails, or even a discreet outdoor fan.
Harmony
Make your yoga garden into a backyard oasis by creating a visually harmonious space. Consider color theory and the basics of landscape design to make sure your yoga garden looks cohesive and visually interesting without being overwhelming. A few small touches will help you make the most of your outdoor practice space.
How to create a yoga garden
Make a garden plan
Before you start digging, plan out what you want your yoga garden to look like so you don’t get in over your head. Set a budget to keep in mind how much you can spend, and consider your needs and wants in a practice space. Are you looking for a miniature arbor nestled into the rest of your yard, or an open, well-lit space?
Kick off your shoes
The last thing you want while practicing yoga outside is to come back with splinters on your toes and mud on your yoga mat! Add somewhere you feel comfortable being barefoot to your garden yoga design. If you already have a deck or patio, this is the perfect place to set up your outdoor yoga space. Just add an outdoor carpet or rug to create a level surface.
Flow with a water feature
Adding a water feature to your yoga garden has plenty of benefits. In addition to creating a calming sensory atmosphere, the trickle of a fountain or waterfall can help to drown out noise traffic from the outside world, centering you fully in your yoga practice.
If you’re looking for something small, there’s no need to stress out over a full landscape installation to enjoy the sound of running water while you practice. A solar-powered fountain is a self-contained option that’s easy to position where you want it in your yard.
Select the perfect plants
After you’ve planned the hardscape elements of your outdoor yoga garden, it’s time to start planting. A yoga garden is the perfect place to incorporate some of the design ideas of sensory gardens and Japanese gardens to craft an immersive experience. Aim for fragrant flowers and lush green container plants like ferns and ficuses to dress up the space.
While you’re picking flowers for your garden, focus on a cool color scheme–– green, blue, and purple. Pairing these serene shades with white flowers like jasmine will cultivate a calming atmosphere.
Once you’ve gotten everything you need, follow your garden plan to dress up your space. Follow these steps:
- Add extra garden soil if your yard needs some extra nutrients.
- Set up raised beds to organize your garden.
- Plant from the outside in, starting with large bushes and shade trees, followed by smaller plants and flowers and transportable containers.
- Finish with some mulch to keep your plants warm and ward away weeds.
Your yoga garden will look balanced and peaceful, just the way you should feel while you’re in it!
Add some decorative accents
Once you’re done with hardscaping and planting your yoga garden, a few accents provide the finishing touch to bring your whole outdoor yoga space together. Wind chimes will help you flow with the wind, while garden statues themed around yoga and meditation will help you feel grounded. Consider adding a shelf unit for extra yoga mats, or an oversized meditation cushion.
Breathe in, breathe out
Yoga should be a restorative and relaxing process, but taking on a landscaping project can be anything but. If you’re interested in creating a yoga garden, don’t get bogged down drawing up plans and spending hours digging and planting. Landscaping pros are just a call or click away.
Main Image Credit: Pexels
