ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the importance of blue spaces, that is, environments rich in access to water and sky, in the context of spirituality at a yoga ashram and vacation spot in the Bahamas. It discusses the ways that therapeutic landscapes enable health, how blue spaces do this in particular and the impacts of spirituality in these environments. There are many varying opinions on how to best ensure the well-being of the population, from the promotion of welfare states on the political left to the insistence on ‘economic well-being’ on the right. While there is much literature on the experience of ‘green spaces’ and their impact on health, there are less data on how people interact with ‘blue spaces’ on their own. The ashram has increased in popularity in recent years as it began offering yoga teacher training during the summer months as well as promoting the place as a vacation retreat.
