Yoga in Vegas

​There's nothing like a Sun Salutation in actual sunshine.

We were in Las Vegas for a family vacation, and while I hoped to get to a Power Yoga studio, I just couldn't squeeze it into our tight schedule. So, I rolled out my mat, which I always bring with me when I travel as it gives me the flexibility to...well, stay flexible.

I enjoyed several yoga practices in the warmth that a sunny spring day in Vegas brings. Power Vinyasa Yoga is traditionally practiced in a heated room (anywhere from 80-90 degrees, depending on the studio). The purpose of heat is to warm the muscles to safely allow students to deepen their poses. It also helps the body to detoxify from the inside out. My talented sister-in-law snapped a couple shots of me while I flowed through Surya Namaskar A -- one of the best ways to integrate the body fully and connect with the breath at the start of a power(ful) practice.

I'm a big fan of taking classes in a studio, but finding a flat surface outside (and a sunny one to boot) is a beautiful and satisfying way to practice. I move at my own pace, listen to my own breath and and let the sound of chirping birds and kids laughing flow through me. And savasana afterward is oh-so-sweet. Perhaps more outdoor yoga classes should be in the works?