find your inner peace outdoors
By Veronica Kawka | Photography by Megan Wylie Ruffing

It’s early morning, and the white puffs that so often cover the Pittsburgh sky are beginning to turn a dark gray. Yet, the outdoor girl in me is begging to be outside doing something, anything. I’m relieved that today is the day of the Edible Allegheny outdoor yoga photo shoot, where I’ll be in the company of three of the city’s most experienced instructors. With a quick look at the ominous sky, hoping the heavens don’t open up, I pull my yoga mat from the closet and let the dewy air envelop me as I head out the front door. After a quick caffeine fix, I get to the park behind R.E.I at the SouthSide Works and am greeted by the three yoga goddesses in purple, stretching in unison:

Leta Koontz of Schoolhouse Yoga, Kristi Rogers of BYS Yoga, and Dominque Ponko from Yogaflow. I fight back the early morning yawns, happy to be here, and follow their lead into the Tree Pose and then the Warrior I, as the thunder begins to roll, but the heat of the summer swallows us all.

Warmer temperatures are actually more beneficial when it comes to practicing yoga. Heat helps our bodies to warm up easily because our muscles stretch more, allowing us to get into deeper poses. I do some research and talk to Kate Kill, another instructor, from The Himalayan Institute, who points out that the heat in yoga is very cleansing for the body, a perfect way to give ourselves that extra burst of energy during the day. Dominque Ponko of Yogaflow suggests letting your surroundings in because, “the universe knows you better than you do.”

Whether it’s raining or the sun is high in the sky, it’s important to get out there and take the time to just “be quiet and still with yourself,” says Leta Koontz of Schoolhouse Yoga.

And, that which is outside is also inside, or so ring the true words of the Tantra yoga philosophy. According to Kill, outdoor yoga is even better for the mind and body. “Being able to be outside and take a breath and take in the beauty of it is really good for the body,” she says. “By appreciating being outside, you improve your relationship with the world.

Taking in beauty with nature makes you less likely to want to pollute it or yourself because you take a minute and recognize it.”

It’s also important to get out of our sterile indoor environments and get outdoors and put our feet in the grass, something many of us haven’t done since we were kids. “Adults are inside too much and don’t appreciate the outdoors. When was the last time you laid on your back and watched the clouds?” says Kristi Rogers of Breathe Yoga Studio.

With the warmer weather, our bodies need even more upkeep: We have to remember to stay hydrated and to drink lots of liquids, says UPMC’s naturopathic counselor, John Laird.  But, most people don’t drink the right things.  Many people opt to drink lots of water, but they may be missing the essential nutrients that water lacks. “Herbal teas and other cooling mint teas are useful, but fresh juices and the nutrients that are in the fruits and vegetables are also really important,” Laird says. “And even the nonnutrients, the phytochemicals, that are in plants are just abundant in all the anti-oxidants. We’re really just beginning to find out what all of their benefits are and how extremely important they are for our health.” In fact, drinking too much water can even be bad for you. Laird describes a condition called hyponatremia, where those who are intensively exercising and drinking excessive amounts of water can negatively affect their sodium levels. An easy fix? Drinking a sports drink will replace the sodium and potassium levels lost during exercise.

In all the chaos of daily life, we tend to overlook the things that really nourish us and keep us going, especially the natural and holistic options. “People tend to forget that what’s recommended to stay healthy is up to nine servings combined of fruits and vegetables a day, and most people don’t get anywhere near that,” Laird says. “Most people are in the neighborhood of one. So with all the fresh local produce available, people should make use of their local farmers and gardens. It’s a great way to get adequate vitamins and minerals.”

Locavorism, a lifestyle to which Koontz subscribes, is part of the Ayurveda, or “life knowledge,” yoga philosophy, where eating local fruits and vegetables that are in season keep our bodies healthy and balanced.  We bend into the Extended Side Angle Pose, and the breeze picks up. Thunder rolls more deeply, and then the rain comes, softly at first and then escalating to a steady pour. We run for shelter, escaping to the Schoolhouse Yoga studio around the corner and finish up indoors. Our bodies are warm as we stretch into the High Lunge. It feels really good. I move back into the Tree Pose, steadying my balance and almost wishing I could be out in the rain again. That which nourishes us, that which sustains us.

Himalayan Institute of Pittsburgh, 300 Beverly Road, Mt. Lebanon. 412.344.7434.  UPMC. 412.623.3023. www.upmc.com Ayurveda Mind & Body Wellness Center, 7051, Suite 1, Steubenville Pike, Oakdale. 412.788.1713. www.AyurvedaInPittsburgh.com Yogaflow, 5433 Walnut St., Shadyside.  412.621.1157. www.yogaflowpittsburgh.com

BYS Yoga, 1113 E. Carson St., Southside. 412.481.9642. www.bys-yoga.com Schoolhouse Yoga, 2737 E. Carson St., South Side. 412.401.4444. www.schoolhouseyoga.com