Going with the Flow

By Teri Hall

doing yoga on the beach

What does yoga have to do with beachcombing one may ask? Well I have the answer to that: It combines two of my favorite activities. 

jewelry made with sea glass

Years past when I first began my sea glass adventures, I was a practicing yogi. Even though it was so difficult for me to lift my head up from the constant never-ending search for sea glass, I tried to remind myself as to where I was, the beauty that surrounded me, the smell of the ocean surf, the ocean breezes, and the ability to pause and catch that full breath of life. But at that time I was so focused on finding the next piece of glass I have to admit that many days I did not pause to stretch, to breath, to take in my surroundings as fully as my soul was asking for. I was addicted to the search. I forgot to “see the sea” in the hunt for nature’s discarded bounty.

beach in canada

As the years went by, I became a certified yoga instructor and a jeweler; once again combining two of my loves. I opened Fire & Water Creations, a home base sea glass jewelry business and began teaching yoga. We have beautiful summers here on Prince Edward Island, a small Island on the East Coast of Canada. And do we have beaches! Just in the eastern area where I live, we “advertise” 50 beaches for tourists to explore. Not all have sea glass, but many do. But what they all have is the ability for us to use our five senses, to see, feel, hear, touch, and smell the ocean.

Fast forward a few years and the yoga students were asking (I might say demanding) to do yoga on the beach. How could I resist that! No need for our yoga mats. We dig our toes into the soft sand, allowing us to connect fully with Mother Earth, forming the steady base for our poses. As we fold into downward facing dog, our eyes glance to our front, left, right and what do we see? Is that a glint of a color shining in the sand? Could it be a piece of sea glass; do I come out of my pose to check? I return to my breath, to my anchor, knowing that it will be there for me to reach for it, pick it up, and hold it to the light.

group yoga on the beach

As we lie in deep rest at the end of our practice my favorite quote quickly comes to mind: “Patience, patience, patience is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should like empty, open, choiceless as a beach—waiting for a gift from the sea.” (Gift From the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh).

As we dust off our toes and rise from our practice we turn our bodies to the sea, our faces to the sky, smile (laugh out loud), and say thank you! We stroll off one by one or in small groups, returning to our day. If you take a closer look, however, you will see that our heads do not remain totally on the horizon. One cannot help but look down, our eyes scanning the shoreline, hoping to catch that sparkle of glass. If you happen to find a piece of glass, marvel in its discovery, consider all the possibilities of its origins, and keep looking.

You never know what may find you! 

yoga beachcomber poses

Try out Teri's Beachcombing Yoga Warmup ›

This article appeared in the Beachcombing Magazine September/October 2021 issue.

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