Outdoor yoga in summer: 'Nature is a healer' on the beach, near the river and in the woods
MARSHFIELD ? Paula Ronayne, of Pembroke, likes doing yoga outdoors because "nature is a healer. This is peaceful and it's a great way to start your weekend."
Christine Cotter, of Marshfield, says, "You're in the forest and you can see the river."
Sara Summers is all in because of the effect on her senses.
"I just love the fresh air and hearing all the sounds, especially the birds," she says. "Your eyes are looking up at the sky and it makes it more cathartic.
"You strengthen your body, calm your mind and soothe your spirit."
The three were among 18 people who showed up at 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday in mid-June at Couch Beach on the banks of the North River in Marshfield. They were there to practice gentle yoga for an hour and a half in a class taught by veteran yoga instructor Kezia Bacon, of Marshfield.
Strengthen your body, calm your mind, soothe your spirit
The class was part of the outdoor Yoga at the River's Edge series on Saturday mornings and Wednesdays evenings offered by the North and South Rivers Watershed Association. A team of yoga instructors leads the sessions in five different locations in Marshfield and Scituate.
Beautiful and tranquil as the setting was, it did require some effort to get there. The site is behind Couch Cemetery, off Union Street, and to reach the river, class members had to walk a third of a mile down a dirt road. It required watching carefully for mud and stepping around puddles from the rain.
Bacon, 52, has taught yoga through the North and South Rivers Watershed Association since 1997. She founded the outdoor yoga program, which lasts from from mid-June to mid-September, because it helps awaken all the senses.
Now in her 28th season, she has assembled a team of other yoga instructors to assist her. On the evening of July 10, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., her sister Marnie Bacon will lead a session at The Dunes at Rexhame Beach. The other instructors are Mary Whidden, Heather Webb, Samantha Dormady, Kat Twigg, Mary Norton and Claire Manganello.
In a typical session, Kezia Bacon said, "You are aware of the breeze, of scents, listening to the breeze, the birds. Your eyes are closed, but we invite you to look around."
Storms can suddenly blow in but it's mostly calm
Sometimes storms can blow in quickly, creating excitement, but for the most part, people are there just to listen, to have a resting pose and meditate.
"We encourage people to do what feels right," Bacon said.
Anne Gregory, 82, of Duxbury, has been her outdoor yoga student for 15 years.
"There is something about the peace and quiet and watching the river," she said.
Gregory said each location has it own magic, from lying down, looking up at the sky or trees, to standing up and seeing a river moving swiftly by.
Maryanne White, 67, of Marshfield, has been an avid yoga practitioner for many years and favors a form called yin yoga (holding poses for long periods).
"Yin yoga has made a huge difference in my body in later life," she said. "Practicing outdoors is the best of both worlds. Being in a beautiful outdoor space is when I feel closest to the source of all that is (God)."
White described how moving to an outdoor experience has led her to feel overwhelmed with gratitude.
"I was lying there, smelling the pine, looking at the blue sky, white clouds and sun-dappled trees. And I thought that if I were asked to imagine what heaven might look like, this would be it."
Where you can practice outdoor yoga on the South Shore
The outdoor yoga sessions explore stretches and postures designed to open up the entire body. Simple breathing techniques are introduced to help calm the mind and energize the body.
Participants must bring their own exercise mats and water and be able to get up and down from the ground without assistance. Fees vary. Here's what's offered:
Yoga at the River's Edge in Marshfield and Scituate: This series of gentle yoga sessions is sponsored by the North and South Rivers Watershed Association on Saturdays from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. through Sept. 21 and on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. through Sept. 4 at five locations along the North and South rivers in Marshfield and Scituate.
Grey's Beach Park in Kingston: Tori Best teaches an all-level, yoga practice on the grass area by the park.
Nantasket Beach in Hull: Gentle sunset beach yoga with Jennifer Cataldo. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Sundays from 8 to 9 a.m.
The Great Lawn at The Glastonbury Abbey in HIngham: Jennifer Cataldo; Saturdays at 8 a.m.
Forge Park in Plymouth: Kripalu yoga with certified instructor Jayne Sutton. Registration is required.
Minot Beach in Scituate: Jen Murphy with the South Shore Wellness Collective. More beach yoga locations including Sandy Beach in Cohasset, Green Harbor in Marshfield and Long Beach in Plymouth are listed on the South Shore Wellness Collective website.
Cohasset Sailing Club: Beverly Bielewicz teaches a yoga class on many, but not all, Saturdays from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. on the clubhouse deck. Check the club's website for dates and cost.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Outdoor yoga in Marshfield, Scituate, Kingston, Hull, Hingham, Plymouth
