Summer Solstice Practices

Happy summer solstice to everyone.  This is our official first day of summer and it's the day where we get to experience the most sunlight of our year.  Being a sun lover myself, I always enjoy the practice of staying aligned with the sunshine especially since, from this point forward, we slowly move toward the end of the year and day of greatest night which the first day of winter or the winter solstice.  

Over the years, I've created some personal practices for myself that help me to celebrate the day.  Usually my yoga practice and teaching style seeks to balance what might be happening in nature and our social climate with opposing attributes, i.e., if it's hot, we focus on cooling practices and, if it's cold, we warm up.  Today, however, I like to stay in parallel with the sun energy, soak it all up and pop it into my reserves as the daylight gradually dwindles.  

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I woke up and had the great honor of doing 108 sun salutations with the fantastic people you see above.  Although we weren't at the same physical location, they came together and connected with me virtually.  We moved a lot and increasingly faster as the sun came up higher in the sky.  We broke up the daunting number into 4 segments of 27.  Each segment of 27 was dedicated to someone or a cause, etc.  You might give this a try yourself and YES it is absolutely fine to spread this out across the day.  

After class I began a few other rituals I have for this sunny day:  I placed all of my gold jewelry in the sun, brew sun tea and placed a jar of filtered water in the sun.  At the end of the day, I will drink both the tea and the water and place my rings and necklace back onto my body and I'll get to absorb all of that sunny goodness.  I'll also spend good time outside but will be careful not to deplete myself with excessive perspiration and won't fry my skin.  I want to nourish myself with the warmth but not aggravate or dry myself out.  I think I'll also visit the farm stand and gather some of nature's beautiful produce.  If you pay attention you'll notice that what is growing now is actually supporting your new season:  cooling and hydrating cucumbers, watermelons, berries, bitter greens (but sweeter ones that in the spring), mint, basil.  It's so wonderful.

What rituals make sense to you today?  Have fun.  Get creative.

Enjoy the golden sweetness today and happy summer to you all!

Love,
Amy
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