Spending time on the pristine beaches of the Emerald Coast is a great way to relax and unwind.

The warm gulf breezes, cool white sand and crystal clear surf seem to melt your cares away like nothing else.

Here at the Sea Oats Motel in sunny Destin Florida, many of our guests like to take advantage of our close proximity to the silky soft shoreline, particularly as the sun is rising or setting, to meditate or practice yoga. Our sand, made up of many yummy polished quartz crystals, is unique to our part of the world, and makes a ideal surface to align body and mind.

Yoga alone provides so many medicinal benefits, from gaining strength, to balancing your Qi (chi), equalizing your hormones, improving your heart function and increasing or maintaining flexibility. Performing yoga on the beach helps to take your experience to a whole new level.

Here are three benefits of doing yoga on the beach that the caring staff at the Sea Oats Motel have researched just for you:

#1: Closer to Mother Nature. When you take an indoor yoga class, your instructor references the heavens and the earth. Yoga on the beach, allows you to experience mother nature’s glory first hand where you can absorb the energy of the earth without the obstruction of a concrete floor or a roof. Watch the sky turn shades of purple, gold and orange as you practice your poses under a dawning sun or achieve inner peace listening to a chorus of crickets and frogs mingling with the steady sound of the surf as you relax your mind beneath a starry blanket.

#2: Gain energy from the sun and water. The sun and the water provide incredible energy. Chinese reference the horary cycle (or circadian rhythms) to the rising and falling of the sun. The energy derived from water correlates to the rising and falling of the moon Conscious awareness of water and sun energy can help improve your energy. When you are in direct contact with our shoreline, with the warm Florida sun and sweet gulf breezes caressing your skin, you will feel that energy transfer in a profound way.

#3: Support from the sand. The sand offers great support to your ankles and feet when you are in an asana (pose) that requires you to balance. Supporting your ankles and feet also provides support to your knee and your hip, and during more difficult asana you can dig your feet into the sand to get into the proper position. The support from the sand can help you feel more comfortable in the position and help to extend deeper into pose, without putting stress or strain on your knee or hip. If you slip or fall out of a pose, the sand easily cushions your body.

So the next time you are visiting the Emerald Coast and the Sea Oats Motel, reap the benefits of doing yoga on the beach while also enjoying all the shopping, dining and unique attractions that make Destin, Florida one of the Top Ten Beach Destinations on Earth.

Call today to learn more about our gorgeous rentals which include spacious living areas, fully equipped kitchens, cozy furniture and bedding, modern bathrooms, private balcony facing endless stretches of the Gulf and so much more that you need to see to believe. 850-837-6655

photo credit: jjay69 via photopin cc