INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY, THE SUMMER SOLSTICE AND SUN SALUTATIONS
This year the summer solstice falls with this in mind that it has become on Monday the 21st of June, the customary in yoga classes to perform same day as International Yoga Day! sun salutation type sequences at this time of the year. It’s not a coincidence that the two events fall on the same day. When Gestures of honouring and paying the UN proposed and established reverence to the natural world International Yoga Day the Indian are part of a yoga practice that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, encourages us to appreciate and suggested the date of the 21st of feel more connected to the rhythms June, as it’s usually the longest of life. In a world of uncertainty, a day of the year in the Northern feeling of connection to the changing Hemisphere and shares a special seasons can bring great comfort. significance in many parts of the Quoting India’s Prime Minister “Yoga world. is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness Solstices happen twice a year - in with yourself, the world and nature.” June and December. The June solstice happens somewhere You may have heard of the ritual between June 20th and the 22nd, of performing 108 Sun Salutations most often falling on the 21st. The around the summer solstice. I’ve December solstice takes place organized and taken part in 108 somewhere between December Sun Salutations a number of the 20th and 22nd, again most often falling on the 21st. Solstice comes from the Latin words sol, meaning Sun and sistere, meaning to come to a stop or stand still. On the solstice the Sun, as seen from the Earth, appears to stand still. Since prehistory, the summer solstice has been marked by festivals and rituals. More recently the summer solstice has been seen as a time of celebrating the sun’s warmth and light and it’s
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times for charity and enjoyed the challenge, but it’s not for everyone. It’s important to me that everybody can practice yoga and with that in mind, to celebrate the last summer solstice, I held an online (because of lockdown) accessible yogathon and this year I will have the great pleasure of repeating the event outside. I call the yogathon accessible, meaning that although we will be practicing dynamic salutation type sequences together, participants won’t have to have a particular athletic ability to take part. I will be demonstrating various example sequences, including chair sun salutes. Those taking part can follow along with me, modify or use a sequence of their own. Though we may be making different shapes, for an hour and a half we will be out in the park, moving and breathing together, honouring and paying reverence to the warmth and light of the sun, celebrating International Yoga Day, thanking India for the gift of yoga and raising money for both our local Women’s Aid and O2 Concentrators for India. May we all feel the warmth and light of the sun this summer solstice. Keep taking good care of yourself, Clair. clair.crestyoga@gmail.com
