One of the proposals that have been given within the first members of Urban Yoga It is about connecting with nature within the urban spaces where we meet, to increasingly honor and preserve them. In this sense, we have been implementing a methodology called Reading to the preparations for each meeting, when visiting a place for the first time.
The Reading
The Reading It is a methodology for engaging with the landscape, observing and recognizing the natural environment, and feeling a part of it. As a practice, it allows us to develop a deep connection with the Sacred Space where we live; it is a tool for observing details (bark textures, bird sounds, rhythms of light). The benefits are tangible and simple; it transforms the place into a "living temple," where each tree or rock becomes an ally for meditation.
"When we recognize other living beings as teachers, every practice, every step, becomes a ceremony of coexistence."
Yoga has always aimed towards the development of a Unity Consciousness, for those of us who are grouped in this movement of Urban Yogis It is important that this approach to yoga not be lost with modernity and its practice in urban environments. On the contrary, we are interested in ensuring that the practice of yoga also serves as a means to awaken a sense of grounding and ecological awareness in practitioners.
Following the flow of a stream, the movement of clouds, or the song of insects helps us sharpen our mindfulness, synchronizing our breathing with natural rhythms. Pranayama, or conscious breathing, is enriched by oxygenating the air purified by the trees.
"Know to protect, recognize to honor"
Some of the trees surrounding the Turmero Oval
In it The Oval Sports Complex, located in the city of Turmero in the Santiago Mariño Municipality of the Aragua State, where our Urban Yoga meeting was envisioned during the month of June 2025, the following Reading was made.
1. Saman (Samanea saman)
ID: A broad, umbrella-shaped crown, bipinnate leaves that close at dusk, and a thick trunk with grayish, fissured bark. During the rainy season, it blooms with pink pompoms.
Growth time: It reaches its majesty (20-25 m) in 80-100 years.
Longevity: An adult saman tree can live more than 200 years.
Ecological value: It regulates soil temperature, fixes nitrogen (enriches the soil) and its shade is home to birds such as parrots and sloths.
Symbolism: Called the "rain tree" because of the way its leaves drip with dew, it was a sacred gathering place for Native Americans.
2. Ceiba (Ceiba pentandra)
ID: Straight trunk with conical spines in its youth, tabular roots (like buttresses), and cottony fruits that are dispersed by the wind.
Growth time: It takes time 50-70 years to exceed 30 m.
Longevity: Live until 400 years.
Ecological valueIts night-blooming flowers feed pollinating bats; its seeds are food for birds.
SymbolismFor many indigenous cultures, it is the “Tree of Life” that connects heaven, earth, and the underworld.
3. Bucare (Erythrina poeppigiana)
ID: Orange-red flowers in clusters (July-September), knobby trunk, trifoliate leaves.
Growth time: Fast (15-20 years to reach 15 m)
Longevity: His life is around 60-80 years.
Ecological valueThey attract hummingbirds and bees; their roots prevent erosion on hillsides.
Fun fact: Its fallen flowers paint the path red, signaling the change of season.
4. Guácimo (Guazuma ulmifolia)
ID: Rough, heart-shaped leaves, small, rough fruits (edible for wildlife), fibrous bark.
Growth time: Grows fast (10-15 years), is key to forest regeneration.
Longevity: can live more than 30 years
Ecological valueIts fruits feed deer, limpets, and birds; it is a pioneer in degraded soils.
5. Araguaney (Handroanthus chrysanthus)
ID: In February-March, it bursts into yellow flowers (without leaves). The trunk is dark and fibrous.
Growth time: It blooms fully at the 20-30 years.
Longevity: Live until 120 years.
Symbolic value: Venezuela's national tree announces the arrival of spring in the plains.
6. Cují Yaque (Prosopis juliflora)
"The Warrior of the Dry Forest"
ID:
– Leaves: Small, bipinnate (feather-like), grayish green. They close in drought to conserve water.
– Trunk: Twisted, rough and dark bark, with long thorns (up to 5 cm) that protect it from herbivores.
– Flowers: Yellow and aromatic, in clusters (attractive to bees).
– Fruits: Curved pods (“carob beans”), sweet, used as human food and fodder.
Growth time: Rapid growth in 5-8 years reaches 4-6 m high.
Longevity: Lives 80-100 years, withstanding extreme conditions.
Key factIt is a pioneer in degraded soils; its deep roots (up to 20 m) seek groundwater.
Symbolic value:
Resistance: It is a symbol of adaptation in arid lands (such as the Venezuelan plains). For local communities, it represents tenacity and survival.
Duality: Its thorns defend, but its flowers and fruits nourish. It teaches that protection and generosity can coexist.
"The cují yaque tree doesn't ask permission to flourish in aridity: it's a teacher of resilience. Its thorns hold the most ancient lesson: life finds its way even where it seems impossible." Did you know its pods are used to make flour and fermented beverages?
Ecosystem importance:
1. Nitrogen fixer: Enriches poor soils, allowing other plants to grow.
2. Shelter and food: Birds (such as cardinals and orioles) nest among its thorns. Pollinating insects depend on its flowers. Deer and cattle eat its pods during drought.
3. Combats desertification: Its roots prevent erosion in semi-arid areas.
4. Climate regulator: Supports fires and regrowth, helping to recover the ecosystem.
Why take care of them?
– A 100-year-old saman tree filters 10 tons of CO₂ in his life.
– A single araguaney* provides shelter to 20+ species of pollinating insects.
– The ceiba tree it's a biodiverse hotel: In a single specimen live epiphytes, birds, and fungi that regenerate the soil.
Key Fauna
- Macaws (Ara severa): They nest in hollows of ceiba and saman trees. Their low-flying flight is a call to protect the old trees.
- The American stag (Mazama americana): It depends on the guacimo and dense forest. Sighting it is a sign of ecosystem balance.
Simple actions to protect them
– Do not carve initials into bark (wounds are gateways for pests).
– Collect fallen seeds (you can germinate them at home!).
– Report logging or fires to local authorities.
Every tree on El Picacho is an elder, holding stories of water, wind, and resilience. Walking here is like reading a living book: let's turn the pages with reverence.
"Through reading, we can integrate the wisdom of ecosystems: roots as stability, rivers as fluidity, mountains as stillness."
