Actor Saiyami Kher recently drew attention towards the rising menace of air pollution and its side effects on people who either run or workout outdoors. Bad air quality has become a staple in metropolitan cities like Mumbai and Delhi. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s overall air quality index (AQI) crossed 290 in the end of February. That means the AQI was poor. An AQI between zero and 50 comes under the good category. But let’s get real. With so many vehicles on the road and crop burning, it’s impossible to fit into that category. Does that mean you lock yourself in and stop working out outside? Nope, you can still enjoy the benefits of doing yoga outdoors.

HealthShots connected with Dr Mickey Mehta, a global leading holistic health guru and corporate life coach to find out if doing yoga outdoors is better or inside a studio or your home.

Benefits of doing yoga outdoors

Running outdoors with poor air quality might be a concern for runners. The same way, the air pollution might discourage you to take your yoga mat outside and perform asanas. But Dr Mehta says you can still reap the benefits of doing yoga outdoors.

1. Doing yoga outside energises you

When you do yoga outside, you get exposed to sunshine that helps to energise you. According to the expert, the sunshine lights you up and gives you a lot of illumination. The richness of elements and the relatively fresh air keep you highly energised and keep your enthusiasm very high.

2. In sync with universal rhythm

It will be difficult to find a spot full of greenery in major cities, but try to find a place which is relatively greener. In the lap of nature, when you do postures emulating nature, your unit rhythm gets synchronised with the universal rhythm.

3. Strengthens your lungs

The health benefits of yoga can’t be underestimated. And doing yoga outside means inhaling better-quality oxygen. With better oxygen, you will inhale and exhale more air. This in turn will improve your heart’s performance.

4. Good dose of vitamin D

We know that vitamin D is needed for healthy bones. There are ways to increase vitamin D levels quickly. It turns out, exposing yourself to the sun is one of the best ways to get a good dose of vitamin D. You will get tons of it if you do yoga outside.

Do these benefits work in a polluted area?

Dr Mehta says that if the outside area is polluted, it will still be better off than areas inside. In the inside, pollution does not get a chance and opportunity to dissipate. Outside in sunlight and air, pollution does get diluted a lot. So yes, certainly, as much outside in the electro-magnetic field of the throbbing elements, you can really flourish despite pollution, explains the expert.

Best time to do yoga

Overnight, the body repairs, heals and restores whereas there is a great energy reserve available first thing in the morning. Working out on an empty stomach after cleaning your bowels is ideal to do yoga, suggests the expert. Maximum oxygen given out by the trees in the day time could be beneficial and of use to you to get you vitalised.

Doing yoga indoors with plants

Doing yoga indoors with plants, may be an idea as an alternate, but it should not be the first primary idea. Practice yoga out in the open, as much open as possible, in absolute sunshine, under the open sky, around a lot of trees and lots of birds chirping.