Finding Mindfulness Outdoors
This might be your Greatest Of All Time workout! Feel all your tensions melt away as you inhale and deepen your stretches alongside some curious goats. Yes, you can find yoga with goats in Fort Myers, or perhaps an outdoor yoga class on the beach, special places to meditate and more ways to practice mindfulness in nature.
Say “namaste” to the goats at Dim Jandy, a Fort Myers ranch where a 90-minute goat yoga session will leave you feeling both revitalized and elated. No experience is necessary and students as young as 12 can participate. If yoga isn’t on your agenda for the day, you can simply reserve a 30-minute snuggling session with the Nigerian Dwarf goats. Take some time to roam the ranch to meet the resident donkeys, chickens and colorful peacocks.
Goats are the stars of the show at Little Big Beak Farm in North Fort Myers. Every Saturday at 9 AM, students ages 8 and up can join in in the fun led by certified yoga instructors (reservations required). Stick around to buy local produce at the farm shop, and don’t miss the chance to bring home some high-quality goat milk soap as a keepsake of your time on the farm.
Take your yoga practice from the farm to a scenic rooftop. At the top of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Sidney’s Rooftop is a beloved gathering space and sculpture garden with 360-degree views of downtown Fort Myers and the Caloosahatchee River. Join Edric’s yoga and conscious movement sessions every Tuesday at 7 PM.
What sounds more natural than sun salutations by the water? Fort Myers Beach Yoga offers group sessions starting in November, or you can reserve your own private lesson. Monday and Wednesday mornings are reserved for Yoga by the River at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, in downtown Fort Myers.
If you’re craving time on the water, why not pair a paddling adventure with some soothing stretches? Stand-up paddleboarding in areas like Lovers Key State Park, in Bonita Springs, and Fort Myers Beach puts you in closer touch with nature as you watch wildlife and practice yoga. Look for classes from outfitters such as Sea Dog Eco Tours and Good Times Charters.
Immerse yourself in the wetlands of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, where the waters can rise as high as your chest during the wet season. Between August and October, you can select from guided strolls on the boardwalk (it’s dry!) or choose a special meditation walk wading through the slough. Take time for yourself at the Wonder Gardens, where rescued birds and reptiles live among banyan trees and other lush greenery. On a 45-minute guided mindfulness walk, you’ll be led through this tranquil space to observe your natural surroundings, reflect and find inner peace. This experience is available on select Monday and Thursday mornings.
You can enjoy these mindful moments with a guided session or go out on your own. No matter where you explore outdoors in and around Fort Myers, you can always find a serene space to center yourself and quiet your thoughts.
