Yoga in the Great Outdoors

Add some extra zen to your practice in the vines, on the beach, or in fields of lavender

Combining time in the outdoors with the meditative calm of a yoga class is a recipe for restoration and relaxation during the busy summer season. Northern Michigan offers several ways to take your practice out of the studio and into the great outdoors, whether that’s at a vineyard or on the beach.

Yoga in the Vines

Becky Kalajian has been at Yen Yoga since 2010. She sought stretching and stayed for all the other benefits she experienced at the practice. “It’s been an incredible place for fostering my overall wellness, deep friendships, and developing tools for stress management,” she says. She emphasizes how important the community of the studio is, and how many relationships have bloomed there.

Yoga in the Vines was born in 2016 as a collaboration between Yen Yoga & Fitness and two local wineries. Today, Yen partners with Black Star Farms for Sundays in July and Mari Vineyards on Friday mornings and Sundays in August.

“The idea was simple but powerful: to highlight the beauty and abundance of the Grand Traverse region through movement, mindfulness, and community, all in the middle of stunning vineyard landscapes,” Kalajian says. 

What started as a handful of classes has grown into a cherished seasonal tradition. Yen Yoga has expanded to partner with multiple outdoor venues, drawing both locals and visitors who want to experience yoga in spectacular settings like lavender fields, hilltop farms, the Open Space, beaches, and even on the Nauti-Cat, Kalajian says. “Each year we fine-tune the experience, but at its heart, it’s always been about celebrating nature, wellness, and connection.”

The pros of outdoor yoga comprise a long list, but boil down to this: “The scenery is unbeatable. You’re breathing fresh air, feeling the sun on your skin, and moving with a panoramic view of vineyards and rolling hills. There’s something incredibly grounding and freeing about practicing in nature,” Kalajian tells us.

The downsides are quintessentially Michigan. “Mother Nature keeps us on our toes! Our first summer, the sprinklers turned on mid-class, which was definitely an unplanned water feature.”

There aren’t many non-weather-related cons to yoga outdoors, but one thing that comes up a lot is people being intimidated to go to a yoga class for the first time. “I always reassure people and encourage them by saying it’s not just being flexible or looking a certain way: It’s about feeling better,” Kalajian says. “Plus, pairing yoga with wine or mimosas doesn’t hurt! It brings a sense of fun and celebration to the practice, while still keeping things rooted in mindfulness.”

Over the years, attendees have discovered the joy of yoga outside, including those in wheelchairs and casts, who simply want to be part of a community and enjoy their abilities.

“Yoga meets you where you are, and that was my intention for this right from the beginning,” Kalajian concludes.

To sign up for a class or learn more, visit yogainthevines.net.

Yoga on the Beach

The waves lapping on the shore, the sand beneath your toes, and the feeling of a good stretch await attendees of Yoga on the Beach. Amy Hubbell has been teaching shoreside yoga since 2010, after co-founding Yoga on the Beach with a few like-minded friends.

Having studied and worked in the fields of psychology and public health, the holistic and healing potential of yoga appealed to Hubbell when she first began practicing in her 20s. Yoga has since become a vital part of her life, and she aims to start every day with a few minutes of practice. “This helps me bring my focus inward, so I can check in with my whole self—body, mind, and spirit.” 

After completing her yoga teacher training with Sandra Carden of Lake Leelanau, Hubbell mentioned to her teacher that she wanted to teach yoga on the beach. Carden connected Hubbell with another student who wanted the same thing, and Yoga on the Beach was created. 

Though not advertised on social media, a following slowly grew for the small, donation-based classes, and now consists of a “group of wonderful, nature-loving students that I look forward to seeing year after year, along with new students that discover my outdoor offerings every summer.” 

Practicing outdoors brings myriad benefits, but awareness is the one Hubbell touts the most. “Sunshine, a gentle breeze, the scents of the air and water are natural reminders to notice what arises in each moment, and then you can bring that awareness inward, noticing your heart beating, your body breathing, how you feel in each pose. Listening to your body is so important in yoga, and I always invite everyone to move at their own pace and offer modifications so the practice can meet each person where they’re at.” 

While yoga is traditionally practiced on a hard surface, practicing on sand can give you additional support or an added challenge, depending on the pose. “It’s lovely to relax on the soft sand in supine poses like corpse pose, and poses practiced on the knees like child’s pose and low lunges can also benefit from a little extra give to avoid straining the joints,” Hubbell says. 

Partnering with area businesses and nonprofits has been an essential part of that growth, Hubbell says. In 2015, Hubbell partnered with Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes to offer classes along the national lakeshore, with 50 percent of proceeds going to their work to help steward our beloved park.

“Those classes have really taken off, and we’ve raised thousands of dollars to support initiatives like the track chair and wheelchair bike programs, which allow those with disabilities to enjoy the park’s hiking and bike trails,” Hubbell says.

She was even able to take one of her brothers on a hike last summer with the aid of a track chair, an experience that meant a lot to both of them. “I’m grateful that I can help make moments like that happen for other families, too, just by doing what I love.”

In addition to classes at Fountain Point Resort and on the beach, Hubbell offers Yoga Hikes year-round (a hike plus shorter standing practice), yoga retreats at Sleeping Bear Inn, and workshops each month in Leland that include a moon-themed yoga practice, sound bath with singing bowls, and a discussion of Ayurvedic wellness practices appropriate for the season.

You can find more information on her classes and workshops at yogaonthebeachnmi.com.

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