This week marked the summer solstice, bringing us sunny skies, longer days, and a wonderful sense of freedom and play. As we officially step into the season, it’s a great time to bring our awareness to the power of the sun and the many ways it supports us.
What can you do to bring the power of the sun into your body?
One of my favorites is to tap into the energy of the sun with a simple yoga exercise. The Sun Salutation, or Surya Namaskar, is traditionally performed in the morning to greet the new day. It’s a series of movements that build heat in the body and is often used as a warm-up sequence for a longer yoga practice.
During the summer months, you can use the power of your intention to elevate this practice and derive even more benefits. Here’s how:
- Focus on Gratitude. Give thanks for this time of activity, recreation, and community. Summer is a time of warmth and expansion, when we focus less on the clock and more on relaxing and relishing the beauty.
- Dwell in Abundance. You need only step outside to enjoy the full bloom of the season. Notice the profusion of colors in nature, from the many varieties of flowers and trees, to the vibrant rainbow of produce at the farmers market. Allow this feeling of fullness and overflow to recharge your body.
- Be Open to Insight. Just as the sun draws new life from the earth, your inner light can bring forth a higher level of awareness. Through mindful practice, things that were hidden can be revealed and lead to a growth spurt in your health and happiness.
These intentions are specifically aligned with the energy of summer. Combine them with the Sun Salutation and you will magnify the experience.
When you embody the power of the sun this summer you will find yourself bathing in gratitude, abundance, and insight. Many blessings!
