Solstice

Winter Solstice is up and coming everybody!  December 21^st is the date so mark your calander!  If you have no idea what the Solstice is here is a brief synopsis.  The Winter Solstice is known as the first official day of winter where the days get shorter and the nights get longer.  In relevance to our lives and our bodies- this is also when we have the most yin in our body.  Yin is known as the cooler elements of life, more slow paced and restorative.  But because of the busy holiday season we tend to send our bodies out of “wack” by incorporating way too much Yang in our life!  Yang is known as the hotter elements of life, fast paced and energy building.  Im sure you all know what im talking about; holiday shopping, holiday baking, family dinners, work parties- ringing a bell?

"Winter solstice, just three or four days before Christmas, is the darkest, most yin day of the year," says Cohen. "Instead of turning inward, we're celebrating with excess and yang activity. This artificiality creates stress, and many people dread the season as a result."

Lets not dread this awesome holiday this year!  Nourish your body and take extra care!  Try to find a perfect balance between your Yin and your Yang!  So when your out rushing about getting gifts or whatever, toss in a practice or maybe even two!  You deserve it!

Now here is the exciting part!  It seems almost counterintuitive to what Cohen is saying but often to bring in the new season there is a “celebration” or “offering.” You are probably wondering what is this glorious “celebration” slash “offering” is… well drum roll please its 108 sun saluations!  Sun Saluations, or surya namaskar, are known as offerings where we “salute the sun.”  It consists of 12 asanas, postures, that are beautifully weaved together.

Why 108 you may ask now…. Well 108 is actually quite a significant number.  Here are a few reasons why:

• §  108 is the number of Upanishads comprising Indian philosophical texts knows as Vedas
• §  108 is the Chinese number representing man
108 is the number of names for Shiva in Hindu philosophy
108 is the number of beads on a Catholic rosary
• §  108 is the number of beads on a Tibetan "mala", a type of “rosary”
• §  108 is the number of names for Buddha

• §  108 is twice the number "54", which is the number of sounds in Sanskrit

• §  108 is twelve times the number 9, which is the number of vinyasas in a Sun Salutation and eighteen times the number 6, which is the number of days per week that yoga is traditionally practiced


 So join me!  “Celebrate” and “offer” your breath, your grace and your presence in 108 surya namaskar December 21^st 2010!