Honoring the Sun

I live in a part of the world that does not see as much sun as most of  us who live here would like. In fact, we have just come through about three weeks of nothing but rain, clouds and cooler than usual temperatures. To say this has not affected how many of us are feeling would be an understatement, given that in just over a week it will be the summer solstice when the day is at its longest.


In ancient times, the summer solstice was a time for tribal people who lived in northern latitudes to celebrate. The snow had melted, trees and flowers bloomed and food was more plentiful. It was a time for celebration and connection.


Today the sun appeared again and I was able to spend a some time on my deck enjoying the warmth and light. With warmer weather, the modern summer solstice fits in to a mindset of fun and relaxation. But it also makes me think about the sun inside each of us. The ancient yogis believed the sun was a token of our inner light which corresponds to our spiritual heart.


One way to honor the sun is by doing sun salutations. These series of yoga poses bring heat to the body, get the circulation flowing and take your body through a full range of motion. Because the movements match your inhalations and exhalations, you connect to the rhythm of your breath and develop your inner focus. Each sun salutation begins and ends with hands in prayer position in front of the heart. This is to acknowledge your own inner sun- your heart, also known as your higher seat of wisdom.


So now that summer is here- soak up the sun with your 45 on and rock on!