Experience the best relaxation in the great outdoors! About Yoga in Kerama

What are the Kerama Islands like?

The Kerama Islands are an archipelago of more than 20 islands of various sizes scattered in the East China Sea, about 40 km west of Naha City on the main island of Okinawa.

Did you know that the Kerama Islands are a favorite tourist spot for people from all over the world?

In this issue, we would like to give you an overview of the Kerama Islands and the yoga you can enjoy in Kerama.

 

Attractions of Kerama

The charm of the Kerama Islands is their beautiful nature.

It is home to many rare animals as well as oceans and plants.

The waters around the archipelago are also a habitat for sea turtles, so if you are lucky, you may see one.

Thanks in part to its blessed natural environment, it was designated as a national park in 2014.

Thus, the vast nature of Kerama can be said to be its charm.

 

Kerama blue that fascinates the world

The area around the Kerama Islands is called "Kerama Blue" because of its unique blue color.

Known for its high transparency, one of the world's best coral reefs, and beautiful waters adorned with numerous tropical fish, many divers from around the world visit the island throughout the year.

Sea turtles inhabit the surrounding waters, and schools of humpback whales can be seen in the winter sea.

The "Keramas Blue" is a natural attraction that captivates the world.

 

A sanctuary for marine activities

When it comes to marine activities, most people probably think of scuba diving and snorkeling.

In the Kerama Islands, you can experience marine activities that cannot be experienced in other prefectures.

An example would be whale watching.

There are only five places in Japan where whale watching can be experienced, including the Kerama Islands in the waters surrounding Okinawa Prefecture!

Kerama is a mecca for marine activities because of its abundance of natural animals and rare coral reefs, which makes it possible to offer a wide variety of activity tours.

 

Magnificent Nature

The beautiful sea is not the only natural feature of the Kerama Islands.

The warm climate throughout the year allows visitors to enjoy more than 600 varieties of colorful plants.

As for coral reefs, more than 60% of Japan's coral reefs can be seen around the Kerama Islands!

The Kerama Islands offer spectacular wilderness where you can encounter a wide variety of flora and fauna.

 

Attraction of Kerama Blue

It is said that the undersea visibility of the Kerama Islands is so high that one can see several tens of meters ahead.

Its beautiful, clear seawater is among the best in the world!

Every winter, pods of humpback whales also migrate to the surrounding waters in search of warm and beautiful waters.

The sea inhabitants, which change with the seasons, are another attraction of Keramas Blue.

 

Relax in the beautiful nature of Kerama

Many of you may be too busy with daily work, housework, and childcare to spend time relaxing.

Some people are so busy in their daily lives that they find it difficult to get rid of fatigue.

In the Kerama Islands, visitors can relax and enjoy the beautiful ocean, sandy beaches, marine life and plants.

Why don't you experience the ultimate in relaxation in Kerama, surrounded by the magnificent nature?

Here we would like to introduce you to yoga.

 

Attraction of Yoga

Many of you may have experienced yoga, which has recently become a well-known fitness activity.

The most appealing aspect of yoga is the liberation of the body and mind.

The "awareness of breathing" and the "approach to the body" open up both body and mind.

 

Relaxation Effect

In yoga, we use breathing techniques, mainly nasal breathing, to move the body.

The constant emphasis in yoga is on breathing.

Breathing in deeply through the nose and exhaling deeply through the nose, this long, slow breathing technique calms the mind by increasing the parasympathetic nervous system, which has a relaxing effect.

The parasympathetic nervous system becomes dominant, blood flow increases to capillaries throughout the body, and muscles relax, allowing the body to feel a relaxing effect.

 

Good mental and physical health

Yoga can bring you to a healthy state of mind and body.
There are many factors in our modern lives that lead to shallow breathing.

For example, when using a computer or smartphone, the face unconsciously moves closer to the display when concentrating, leading to straight neck and hunchback.

In that poor posture, muscles become stiff and contracted and breathing becomes shallow.

Yoga helps to release tension by regulating breathing and using muscles throughout the body in a variety of poses.

In this way, yoga can be an approach to both physical and mental health.

 

I can face myself.

Many people feel stress, tension, and fatigue in their daily lives.

We often forget to take care of ourselves "self-care" because of our daily busyness.

Although we are aware of the physical and mental signs of lack of exercise, fatigue, and not feeling well, we tend to go about our usual routines and create a state of lack of balance ourselves.

The etymology of the word yoga means harmony, unity, and balance.

It is also called the "adjustment method" because it unites the out-of-balance "mind, body, and consciousness" and returns them to their original state of harmony and alignment.

During yoga, meditation and various postures are performed along with deep breathing.

Meditation is a special time to face oneself, to look at every part of the body in a relaxed manner and to calm the mind.

Yoga to be enjoyed in Kerama

There are many different types of yoga.

Here we will introduce yoga that you can enjoy in the Kerama Islands.

 

Beach Yoga

Beach yoga is yoga practiced on the beach at a resort or other location while feeling the ocean breeze.

Beach yoga allows one to feel and take into the body the life energy that abounds in the ocean, stimulating one's senses and opening up one's mental energy.

Beach yoga, performed while listening to the sound of the waves and looking out at the blue ocean, has a relaxing effect that can be felt not only through the body but also through the vision.

Fun & Attraction

The appeal of beach yoga is that the ocean is right in front of you, so you can feel the great outdoors and breathe naturally with the ocean breeze.

Exposure to sunlight also helps regulate the autonomic nervous system.

It is also a great way to join in and have fun with your friends.

This plan is a unique way to enjoy the Kerama Islands, where you can participate in beach yoga with your friends on vacation and then go straight to the beach to enjoy it!

SUP Yoga

SUP stands for "Stand Up Paddleboard," a marine activity that allows you to experience both fitness and relaxation by standing on a special board floating on the surface of the water and paddling while keeping your balance.

The same poses as in general yoga are performed, but on an unstable board for greater fitness benefits.

It will strengthen your core and develop your sense of balance and concentration.

In addition, the shaking of the water and the sounds it makes will help relax the body and mind.
　

Fun & Attraction
Because it is performed over water, it is more challenging than regular yoga.

Therefore, the appeal of SUP yoga is that you can participate for weight-loss purposes.

Why don't you try it with the goal of being able to hold various poses?

 

Sunrise Sunset Yoga

Sunrise YogaHa,This is ideal for those who don't like to feel hot and want to spend an active day with plenty of time early in the morning.

Sunset yoga is also recommended for those who want to enjoy alcohol as well, or for those who do not like to wake up early!

It is a perfect place to relieve the fatigue of a body that has been exercised a lot during the daytime activities.

Enjoy yoga in different ways depending on the time of day.

 

Fun & Attraction

Similar to beach yoga, the attraction of sunrise and sunset yoga is that you can feel the beginning and end of the day close at hand.

After all, yoga with a view of the beautiful ocean and sun brings a sense of fulfillment that cannot be experienced anywhere else.

Enjoy the Okinawan sea under the beautiful sunrise and sunset with your friends!

 

summary

In this article, I have introduced the charms of Kerama and yoga.

Kerama is filled with attractions that can only be experienced here.

Refreshing yourself with yoga in the great outdoors will surely relieve your daily fatigue!

Why not join us for yoga when you travel to Okinawa?