As the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and the days stretch to their fullest, the summer solstice invites us into a sacred observance of stillness, celebration, and transformation. Occurring around June 20–21 in the Northern Hemisphere, the solstice marks the longest day of the year—an ancient turning point honored across cultures as a symbol of abundance, renewal, and light. For yoga practitioners, it’s a powerful time to align body, breath, and spirit with the rhythms of nature.
When I was a younger, newer yoga teacher, I offered an annual event on the occasion of the Summer Solstice. We’d meet outdoors at dawn. (One such event, at Baltimore Woods, is pictured below.) As the sun rose, we began a “Yoga Mala,” 108 Sun Salutations. When we meditate with a string of 108 beads, that is called mantra japa, and we repeat the mantra 108 times, once for each bead on a string of 108. Those beads create a mala, or garland, as a tool for our practice. When we salute the sun, we use our body to offer 108 repetitions of surya namaskar. If you are not familiar with a sun salutation, each one involves around 10 poses. It took us over 3 hours to practice 108 of them. It was like a yogi’s version of a marathon. It is a challenging, often sweaty endeavor. It’s wise to train before the event, and it’s common to be sore for a few days afterwards.
I fell out of the habit of hosting a summer solstice event because I was away at training for several solstices, and when the next one rolled around, I decided to have a less vigorous observance of the solstice. Then, in 2015, the United Nations adopted the International Day of Yoga, and it’s observed on the day of the summer solstice each year. So now, we have two things to celebrate on that day.
Here are a few possible ways to celebrate the International Day of Yoga and integrate the solstice into your practice:
1. Sun Salutations, of course. Begin your solstice morning with a few (or many) rounds of Surya Namaskar. Move with intention, offering each breath and gesture as a tribute to the sun and a celebration of life. You can find a video class for guidance here.
2. Meditation on Light Sit quietly and visualize a golden sun at the solar plexus, expanding with each breath. This meditation can awaken your inner fire--tapas—and foster a deeper sense of radiance and clarity.
3. Fire Ceremony or Journaling Symbolically burn away limiting beliefs or past burdens. You can write down what you’re ready to release and offer it into a small fire, or simply journal about your personal transformation and intentions for the season ahead.
4. Practice Outdoors Whether it’s asana, pranayama, or meditation, take your practice outside and let the sun warm your skin. Connecting directly with nature heightens awareness and attunes you to the solstice’s energetic frequency.
The summer solstice is a celebration of light—but also a reminder that light and shadow dance together in the cycles of life. After the solstice, the days gradually begin to shorten, hinting at the return of stillness and introspection. Yoga teaches us to embrace both—to honor the fullness of life in all its phases.
This solstice, may your practice help you stand tall in your truth, rooted in the earth and reaching toward the sky. May you awaken your own inner sun and share your light generously with the world.
When I was a younger, newer yoga teacher, I offered an annual event on the occasion of the Summer Solstice. We’d meet outdoors at dawn. (One such event, at Baltimore Woods, is pictured below.) As the sun rose, we began a “Yoga Mala,” 108 Sun Salutations. When we meditate with a string of 108 beads, that is called mantra japa, and we repeat the mantra 108 times, once for each bead on a string of 108. Those beads create a mala, or garland, as a tool for our practice. When we salute the sun, we use our body to offer 108 repetitions of surya namaskar. If you are not familiar with a sun salutation, each one involves around 10 poses. It took us over 3 hours to practice 108 of them. It was like a yogi’s version of a marathon. It is a challenging, often sweaty endeavor. It’s wise to train before the event, and it’s common to be sore for a few days afterwards.
I fell out of the habit of hosting a summer solstice event because I was away at training for several solstices, and when the next one rolled around, I decided to have a less vigorous observance of the solstice. Then, in 2015, the United Nations adopted the International Day of Yoga, and it’s observed on the day of the summer solstice each year. So now, we have two things to celebrate on that day.
Here are a few possible ways to celebrate the International Day of Yoga and integrate the solstice into your practice:
1. Sun Salutations, of course. Begin your solstice morning with a few (or many) rounds of Surya Namaskar. Move with intention, offering each breath and gesture as a tribute to the sun and a celebration of life. You can find a video class for guidance here.
2. Meditation on Light Sit quietly and visualize a golden sun at the solar plexus, expanding with each breath. This meditation can awaken your inner fire--tapas—and foster a deeper sense of radiance and clarity.
3. Fire Ceremony or Journaling Symbolically burn away limiting beliefs or past burdens. You can write down what you’re ready to release and offer it into a small fire, or simply journal about your personal transformation and intentions for the season ahead.
4. Practice Outdoors Whether it’s asana, pranayama, or meditation, take your practice outside and let the sun warm your skin. Connecting directly with nature heightens awareness and attunes you to the solstice’s energetic frequency.
The summer solstice is a celebration of light—but also a reminder that light and shadow dance together in the cycles of life. After the solstice, the days gradually begin to shorten, hinting at the return of stillness and introspection. Yoga teaches us to embrace both—to honor the fullness of life in all its phases.
This solstice, may your practice help you stand tall in your truth, rooted in the earth and reaching toward the sky. May you awaken your own inner sun and share your light generously with the world.
RSS Feed