If you’re looking to rejuvenate your workouts, the summertime serves as a great way to switch up your scenery to add some fresh inspiration to the ways in which you are physically active.
Heading outdoors for a workout offers nature as an ideal backdrop to continue aspiring for goals within your health and wellness regimen.
Whether you’re seeking the weekly practice of adult yoga offered by Chester Springs Library on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Pine Creek Park in Chester Springs where singing birds serve as the soundtrack, or a weekend bike ride for the whole family on the Schuylkill River Trail in Pottstown after renting free bikes from Bike Pottstown for those age 16 and older, you are are likely to enjoy taking a break from a mundane workout at the gym to engage your senses in new ways.
Solstice Soundflow session
Jen Ryan, founder of White Wave Restorations, specializing in sound immersion, will be offering an outdoor ‘Solstice Soundflow‘ session on June 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All are welcome to come out in nature to experience her playing a myriad of instruments to induce a sound healing experience.
Ryan, whose business was previously known as “Jen Who Plays the Gong,” also offers outdoor sound sessions at Evansburg Vineyards. She finds that people open up more to a sound therapy experience when it takes place outdoors.
“It’s allowing people to return and connect to the slowing pace of the natural rhythm while also immersing in the senses and elements and the soundbath piece itself,” Ryan said.”It’s a beautiful interweaving.”
Grounding and uplifting
Her partner, fingerstyle guitarist Dann Pell, will be offering sunset songs aimed to be grounding and uplifting, also taking place at Kimberton Park, but next month, on July 13 at 7 p.m.. Ryan will be doing a gong bath as a lead-up to the sharing of his folk-style meditative music.
Ryan explained the ways in which people can benefit from an outdoor session of wellness versus indoor.
“Outdoors, you are interconnecting with all aspects of nature while simultaneously remembering oneness with it,” she said. It’s also so supportive for rebalancing the nervous system.”
Additional benefits outdoors
As a teacher, Ryan finds she also receives additional benefits when teaching outdoors.
“It frees the mind, clears the energy and allows people to genuinely connect with being human,” she said.
Her first spring session at Evansburg Vineyards, where soundbaths are followed by a glass of wine every last Saturday of the month from 10 to 11 a.m., sold out quickly.
“The first one in May sold out a month prior to the date, and June is already halfway to sell-out, and we are three weeks out,” she said.
Regardless of location, Ryan’s intentions are the same.
”My intention is to help people reconnect with the roots and remember how it really feels to be human, integrated with natural life.”
Outdoor Sound Immersion is open to the public and no registration is required in advance — free-will donation.
For more information, visit www.whitewaverestorations.com. Yoga in the Park for Adults is free, just show up with a yoga mat and a water bottle-no registration required in advance. For more information, visit https://ccls.libcal.com/event/14408525. Learn more about Hit the Trail on Bikes at www.bikeschuylkill.org.