What even is "wine yoga"...?
Many people out there will tell you that wine and yoga don't *necessarily* go together. There is actually a huge argument around it!
So, the question is, do you drink wine? And do you practice yoga?
If the answer is yes to both of those, then, of course there is a way to beautifully blend yoga and wine together for a synergetic experience.
I argue, the way you approach this is critical to stay in alignment with yogic values and be able to take your wines experience to another level.
As a yoga teacher and having experience in winemaking, I will show you the best ways to blend the natural elements of wine into your yoga practice to create a beautiful balance (ideas I am sure you have never thought of).
You will be surprised they actually go together. (Hint hint: If you are also a yoga teacher these are great ideas for a wine yoga event!)
This post is all about wine yoga.
9 Genius Ideas to Blend Yoga & Wine
Bear with me here as we dive into something...
I am going to ask you two questions:
- What is wine?
- What is yoga?
*thinking, thinking*
Well, wine is a byproduct of the great process of fermentation. Fermentation is a natural process found all over the world in natural environments. So, it is safe to say that fermentation comes from the Earth... or even better, Mother Nature.
(Arguably, fermentation is nature's greatest gift... Tell me something better!)
Second question... what is yoga? Yoga *literally* means Union, between spirit, mind, and body. I am sure you have experienced pure yoga bliss if you practice yoga. So, essentially, yoga is the unionization of our natural elements (spirit, body, and mind) without any fluff.
Therefore, we can take the natural elements of wine (aka fermentation) and begin to connect that sacred process with our yoga practice to unionize Mother Nature, mind, body, and spirit.
These 9 genius ideas to blend yoga & wine are focused around the fermentation process, education, and connecting with nature's greatest gift.
Let's make something clear, with these concepts I will show you, the idea is that the wine comes after the yoga.
You are not drinking wine while doing yoga.
Your yoga practice is for you to practice, not get distracted by drinking. After you practice is when you get to work with the spirit of wine.
Do a yoga flow with an intention, find your breath, move your body with your breath, sit in 5 minutes of meditation, bring yourself into the moment...
Then, step into these 9 stellar ideas:
Working with the Spirit of Wine
(P.S. I could yell this from the rooftops!!)
Ok, first of all, when we are combining yoga and wine we must think about what that *actually* means.
You are wondering how to mesh these two together, right?
After yoga, working with wine is a way to connect to natural elements, connect to the transformation of a grape, and ultimately, connect to the transformation within yourself.
So, working with the spirit of wine hold many faces and it is how YOU personally want to experience it.
I get it, it sounds funny "the spirit of wine", but think about it: The grapes go through a transformative experience, with live cultures (yeasts and bacteria).
And once wine is created it is forever evolving. Whether in the bottle aging, in the glass, or during the winemaking process.
Working with the spirit of wine will be a personal journey for you and how it talks and speaks with you. Whether you are doing wine yoga on your own, with friends, or in a wine yoga event.
Fermentation for Beginners
For many people, fermentation is a new concept and a new science to them. So, exploring fermentation for beginners is a great start into working with the spirit of wine.
Fermentation spans so wide, you can ferment grapes (obviously), veggies, fruits, ginger, herbs, and more!
When hosting an event, it can be so simple to do a yoga class then move into a fermentation workshop making sauerkraut. Once everyone is done with the workshop you can drink some wine and talk about the wine process and how it relate to the workshop.
Fermentation for beginners is the first step into blending wine yoga together. It is important to understand the basics, plus, fermentation is the *coolest* thing to get into.
This book will *actually* blow your mind. The author teaches how to use natural elements, even things in your backyard, to create profound fermented drinks.
A great addition to the wine yoga table as you drink your wine and connect.
Make Your Own Wine
What better way to connect with wine than making it yourself.
After a yoga practice, you can move into easy wine making that requires 2 ingredients and minimal equipment.
A great way to start to understand the winemaking process. Ultimately, the fermentation process is where the *magic* happens!
You get to *literally* see the bubbles and watch the transformation of sugar to alcohol by our lovely yeast friends!
Incorporate this transformation of wine into your yoga practice. When you leave a yoga practice you are different than how you arrived. Same goes for fermenting wine.
Find connection to your ferments through your own transformations.
Make a Starter
Another great idea for wine yoga and how to connect to the spirit of wine is to create a yeast starter.
If making your own wine is too excessive, and you are looking for something easier, then look no further!
Making a yeast starter is a simple and easy way to get into fermentation, then you can use the starter to make sodas, beer, wines, ciders, or just enjoy the process of working with yeast.
Make a yeast starter, talk about wine and how they relate is a perfect bridge to yoga, nature, and wine.
How to Make a Yeast Starter in 8 Easy Steps
Find the Winemaker & Highlight Their Work
Probably my favorite idea to connect yoga & wine...
Find your winemaker! Learn their techniques, what makes them unique, how do they honor the process, do they use excessive added sugar, or not?
This will connect you with the hands that transformed the grapes into wine (which we understand is the sacred process of Mother Nature).
I might warn you, however...
It can be a slippery slope. Once you find your winemaker and love their techniques you may fall in love and find deep loyalty.
When I worked in California wine country, my winemaker used natural fermentation techniques that used the natural yeasts on the grapes to ferment the grapes. Her wines have a literal cult following because of the techniques she uses!
Check out the "yellow pages" of the wine industry where you can find wineries, growers, personnel, brands, etc!
From Vine to Wine
The coolest part of wine is the transformation the plant takes from vine to a wine glass.
When I was in California wine country, it was so magical to walk to vineyards, see the grapes, watch them grow, then use my hands to make wine out of them.
It was the most divine transformation I have ever experienced.
Single vineyard wines are wines that use grapes from one plot of land. The bottle quite literally represents the land...
How amazing is that?!
The transformation the grape undergoes can be symbolic to your own transformation in yoga.
Start that learning process with the best book to get you started:
Make a Booklet of Information
If you are hosting an event, or want to share this connection with your friends making a booklet is a fun creative idea. I mean who doesn't love to make creations in Canva?!
Maybe you have the winemakers information, the vineyards, and you understand the process from vine to wine.
Now, throw it all together into a lovely, comprehensive, and simple booklet to easily inform others on the spirit of wine.
Add in These Wellness and Wine Tips
Another one of my fav ideas to blend yoga and wine: wellness and wine tips! I personally have used these tips to bring greater relaxation, clarity, and beauty into my wellness routine.
AND I get to drink wine while I do it?! Sign me up.
We can allow wine to be beneficial for us if we use it correctly, instead of abusing it or completely disregarding it and mindlessly drinking, we can use it to elevate our lifestyle.
Top Wellness & Wine Tips You Are Missing Out On
Easily integrate these tips into your wine yoga experience, blend it with multiple ideas and tips and create the best yoga & wine experience for yourself (and maybe others)!
Use Stellar Glassware
If you ever have had a glass of wine from that *pristine* glass, you know what I mean when I say... use stellar glassware.
When we are drinking wine and blending that with yoga, it is an honorary celebration of creation. Therefore, it is so important to use good glasses.
Read more about the best glassware for wine that won't break the bank:
Guide to Affordable & Best Glassware for Wine
All in all, wine yoga can mean whatever you want it to mean. But, from a yoga teachers point of view (who has transformed grapes into wine), wine and yoga can blend beautiful and teach us so much about ourselves, Mother Nature, and how to show the most respect we can.
These ideas are great for any wine yoga event, any individual yoga practice, or a unique experience for you and your friends.
So, do a flow, grab a glass, order one of these books, and get started understanding the spirit of wine, and the spirit within ourselves.