I enjoy traveling, and I've had the good fortune to visit many beautiful places all over the world in my quest for spa experiences. One of the activities I often try at spas is yoga. I am not a serious practitioner, but I do enjoy it - especially outdoors in spectacular locations.

My first yoga class was outdoors at Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona. This was during my first visit there - years before Mii Amo was built. The classes were held on the tennis courts surrounded by the red rocks of Boynton Canyon. It was fabulous. There was something special about the stillness of the air, the beauty of the rock formations and the energy of this place...

*Yoga at Mii Amo at Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona

I took two memorable yoga classes while visiting Spa Oceana at Don CeSar Beach Resort in St. Pete's Beach, Florida. The first was on the beach in front of the property. It was challenging - a bit more advanced than my abilities - but really good. The second yoga class was my favorite. The resort had arranged a group KaYoga session off property. After a short drive, we kayaked for about 45 minutes to a remote beach, had a yoga session then kayaked back. It was a great experience. There was something special about crossing the water, the sound of the surf, the sand under my feet and the energy of this place...

Kayaks for KaYoga near Don CeSar Beach Resort

**Yoga during KaYoga near Don CeSar Beach Resort in St. Pete's Beach, Florida

Another of my favorite outdoor yoga classes was Canyon View Yoga at Red Mountain Resort in Ivins, Utah. Our instructor, Ian, drove us to a lovely area in Snow Canyon. After a short walk, we found ourselves on flat rocks that were perfect for us to roll out our yoga mats. I loved it. There was something special about the quiet, the sun shining down between the passing clouds, the beautiful scenery and the energy of this place...

Red Mountain Resort Yoga Instructor, Ian Phillip White, after Canyon View Yoga Session in Snow Canyon State Park

It seems that my inbox is overflowing with notices of yoga retreats lately. I read them and think, "I'll bet that would be great." Here are a few that stand out:

• Sunset Flow Bayside Yoga at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach, Florida - Flow with the setting sun and ease into your evening on the yoga dock.
• The Grand Hyatt Kauai’s Sunrise Yoga Hike - limited to 6 participants daily and led by teacher Maggie Clute. The group hikes for twenty minutes along the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail. Teacher Maggie incorporates stretching moves along the way until the group reaches a scenic promontory where yogis lay out their mats and begin practice in one of the most inspirational settings on the island. As the ocean’s waves break against the cliff below, a 360-degree view of ocean and lush Kauai are sure to instill peace and calm in all who practice.
• A yoga retreat run by Perumal Koshy at Palais Namaskar, located between Morocco’s Atlas Mountains and Djebilet Hills. Its tranquil Moroccan environs with serene lakes and green vistas abound with harmony and positive natural energies.
• The open-air yoga studio at Tabacon Grand Spa in La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica offers the unique combination of the energy of the active Arenal Volcano, the warmth of the Tabacon hot springs and the purity of the surrounding rainforest, that blend into what many have described as “the eighth wonder of the world”.  (How did I miss this when I was there??)

While Miami, Kauai, Morocco or Costa Rica are not currently in my travel plans, I am not sad. When I am not traveling, I have been taking a weekly Sunset Yoga class through the Delaware Nature Society at their Coverdale Farm Preserve. On our walk to the high meadow where we have our class, we walk past sheep, a young calf that loves to visit and a stone barn.

Stone Barn at Delaware Nature Society's Coverdale Farm Preserve

Our Yoga Mats on the High Meadow at Delaware Nature Society's Coverdale Farm Preserve

Our teacher Stephanie Pascavage leads us through a combination of Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga with a touch of Pilates in the open air with a wonderful view of the rolling countryside. We work on the basics of breathing, posture alignment, strengthening, and stretching as well as balance and body awareness. When the session starts, we can hear the leaves rustling in the breeze. As the class progresses, the air becomes still, and the sound of crickets is joined by cicadas and, eventually, by a great horned owl. The golden glow of the early evening is replaced by the rising moon and a colorful sunset. There is something special about feeling the cool grass under my feet, the sounds, the hilltop views, the beautiful sunsets and the energy of this place...

Sunset on the High Meadow at the end of Yoga Class at Delaware Nature Society's Coverdale Farm Preserve

Rising Moon on the High Meadow at the end of Yoga Class at Delaware Nature Society's Coverdale Farm Preserve

Here are a book and DVD about yoga that I have enjoyed and highly recommend:

The Tenth Door: An Adventure Through the Jungles of Enlightenment is a great book by Raja Yoga teacher and wellness educator, Michele Hébert. She tells about her search for enlightenment and self-actualization that led her from the heart of San Francisco to the remote beaches and dense jungles of El Salvador with legendary yoga master Walt Baptiste.

The documentary Yogawoman, narrated by Annette Bening, is the first film to focus solely on the impact of yoga on women's health, fitness, emotional well-being, and personal growth, shows how yoga has come out of the studio and into the real world, into cancer clinics, African villages, urban streets and prisons, to radically change the lives of women worldwide.

Those are my thoughts about outdoor yoga. Thanks for "listening." I am interested in hearing about your favorite outdoor yoga experiences. Share them with me at jar@DiscoverSpas.com or on the DiscoverSpas.com Facebook page.