We’ve been in winter for some time now, but as we head into the spring, there’s still a very high chance that we’ll see some more snow. Even here in the UK, we’re still experiencing snow and sub-zero temperatures.
You would have thought those of us who like to practice yoga while being in touch with nature would move into our living rooms or studios. However, this doesn’t seem to have been the case.
Not if you’ve been living or walking through Lafontaine park in Montreal, Canada for the past few Saturday mornings. Regardless of the fact that the snow was over a foot-deep, yoga enthusiasts still laid out their mats to bear the cold. Dubbed locally as ‘snowya’, this isn’t actually the first-time yoga has been taken into the snow.
In fact, more and more yoga classes are being advertised and held in ski resorts, town and city parks and even outdoor carnivals. Back to Montreal, the classes are held every Saturday morning for free and have been popular with locals for over five years now.
However, perhaps surprisingly, classes have become extremely popular during these last few winter months. In fact, some dozen-sized classes have expanded to over 50-60 people. The classes last around 45-minutes, hosted by the Pop Spirit yoga studio and aim to be a taster session to get more people into the studio.
While yoga is typically associated with spandex outfits and bamboo wood studio, founder Ciampanelli claims this kind of yoga is all about having fun. She notes that the ground may be uneven and cold, you’re bound to fall into the snow at least once during the session, which is great for sending out some positive energy.
The Future of Yoga?
As you would imagine, snowya does have its limitations. While flexibility is obviously restricted thanks to the cold weather, some poses require a flat surface in which to be performed properly, meaning they’re unsafe or impossible out in the park.
Although restricted, the classes are just taster sessions and designed to be playful and a good time. However, the movements that are performed are still strenuous and are sure to get your heart rate up. In fact, she claims students won’t start getting cold until the temperature plunge to around -20°C. In this event, the classes are shortened to around 30 minutes.
What are your thoughts? Would you be happy to get out there into -20°C temperatures to practice yoga or plan on sticking to the studio? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
