Yoga doesn’t always need a mat

One of my favourite sessions wasn’t yoga at all, it was forest bathing.

Slowing down, moving together in silence, and really attending to what was around me felt simple and quietly powerful. If you’ve been to my classes you’ll know how much I value sensory awareness - tuning into the sights, sounds, touch and smells that shape our experience. This session gave me fresh ways to practise that.

I found myself noticing the little things: the sound of leaves crunching in my hand, the rough texture of bark beneath my palm, the mineral scent of damp earth, the sharp snap of a twig underfoot. Those details brought me fully into the moment and into my body. They also reminded me why I prefer practising outdoors on ground that isn’t perfectly flat — uneven terrain invites micro-adjustments, strengthens stability, and teaches resilience.

This week I left the mat indoors. Yoga doesn’t need a studio, four walls or even a mat. Sometimes stepping outside and simply paying attention is practice enough.

If you’re pressed for time, try this:

• Spend five minutes standing barefoot in mountain pose on varied ground - grass, soil, gravel — and notice contact points under your feet.

• Close your eyes for two minutes and listen: layers of sound will come forward when you’re still.

• Widen your nostril with your fingers and take one slow, deliberate breath and scan for scent around you.

Small, consistent moments like this support recovery, and deliver tangible results for body and mind, which is exactly what we aim for at Stretching Horizons.