Published: April 01. 2010 2:00AM

By Kondria Woods
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

All over the Upstate, the signs are everywhere. The view of the Blue Ridge Mountains has taken on a lush tone. Green shoots are poking through the ground, making their collective presence know. Spring has sprung, and Greenville has, once again, reclaimed its name.

While the green we love so well is starting to be seen, it is also becoming a welcome state of mind. We're thinking green with every bottle and stack of paper we recycle, and every light switch turned off or light bulb changed to a more efficient model.

Exercise may be the ultimate green activity that enhances mind and body. Every mile we walk, run or bike instead of driving does just as much for us as it does for the environment, and maybe much more. As we’re all seeking the beauty and simplicity of nature this spring, one form of exercise is helping its practitioners gain more oneness with the environment — one breath at a time.

“A suggested first step in a yoga practice is intention,” said Chris Brown, E-RYT, co-owner of Dharma Yoga Studios with his wife, Beth. “Start by setting your intention. Perhaps it's self-improvement, healing for you or another, or just insight into a situation or relationship. Beyond intention, practice begins with awareness and deepening of the breath. The average human breathes 15 times a minute, and a yogi might breathe 4 to 8. As your breath slows, so does your central nervous system and so do your thoughts. The impacts of decisions become more evident. Your breath is your life. Try doing without the breath, and see how long you can go.”

An exercise for all ages, yoga can be beneficial for both the novice and the accomplished athlete. At North Main Yoga, and just about any other yoga establishment, the accessories needed to indulge in the activity incorporate the ultimate mantra of environmental awareness: reduce, reuse, recycle.

“When practicing yoga, you need no special equipment, no special shoes, nothing to be bought that will be thrown away,” said Liz Delaney, E-RYT, co-owner of North Main Yoga with her husband, Brian. “We offer eco-friendly yoga mats and have a link to a mat recycling program when students are ready to discard their mats. Many of the students at North Main Yoga find they can walk to class as well, lessening the impact on the environment.”

Although it's difficult to point to one asana (or yoga position) as the best movement for an individual, the entire practice has a lot in common with most forms of exercise. Anything that provides a release for stress strengthens your limbs and creates the space for calm, makes you friendlier, and ultimately friendlier to the environment.

“All the asanas assist a yogi,” said Allison Lindquist, E-RYT and certified holistic life coach and owner of 90 Degrees Yoga. “The asanas teach you to breathe, slow down, and pay attention … that our actions and thoughts control our environment. When we think positive, we create a positive energy. This energy is felt by someone else, and so on and so on. In other words, when you are kind to some one, they will in turn be kind to someone, and then that person will be kind and so on. This is how peace is spread. Where there is peace, there is more energy for appreciation of our environment.”

Brown added, “In yoga philosophy, the key to happiness is contentment, or being grateful for what you have. ... Always reaching for more and more is neither advisable nor healthy. The clearer we get on our own needs, the easier it is to give things up and do without the things that create negative situations and increase materialism. Most everyone I know who practices regularly naturally moves toward a state of simplification in their lives. Negative relationships are let go. Unhealthy food is gradually given up for better nourishment. Most watch a little less TV. For folks trying to quit smoking, I tell them not to try, just do more yoga. Smoking doesn't get in the way of doing yoga, but in time, yoga will get in the way of smoking. As we do with less stuff, do more recycling, and buy used rather than new, we are simplifying, using our resources better and creating space for positive interactions with our environment.”