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Summer Solstice & 108 Sun Salutations: The Significance
Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year.
Numerous energy patterns intersect at areas called “CHAKRAS” which coincide with “NERVE PLEXUS”.
We practice “108 SURYA NAMASKARS” (Sun Salutations) to activate all of the “MARMAS” and “ENERGIZE the ENTIRE BODY”.
108 is twelve times the number 9, which is the number of vinyasas (movements linked to breath) in a Sun Salutation.
On the Summer Solstice, the earths 🌍 semi-axis is most inclined towards the sun. ☀️ It’s been marked as a time of celebration throughout history and in numerous cultures.
In “Yoga”, the “Solstice” is one of the most important periods for strengthening practices.
The Summer Solstice symbolizes the moving from the darkness into the light of summer.
The Earth 🌍 has sprung back to life. Crops thrive under the heat and light of the sun ☀️ and so do humans.
The Summer Solstice is a perfect opportunity to bring the SUNS ☀️ ENERGY and SYMBOLISM to your yoga practice. This is the reason we practice 108 Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutations.
The “SURYA NAMASKAR” sequence is a “MANDALA” or CIRCLE ⭕️ of poses celebrating the SUN.☀️
Why practice 108 times?
The number 108 is regarded as a sacred number for the following reasons:
108 is the number that connects the SUN ☀️, MOON 🌕 and EARTH 🌍.
The average distance of the SUN and MOON to EARTH is 108 times their respective diameters.
There are 117 MARMAS in the human body.
However, we can only activate 108 of these.
MARMAS or “MARMASTHANAS” are points on the body where energy flow can be trapped or stimulated.
ENERGY (nerve impulses, biochemical reactions etc.) flow through these MARMAS – creating a pattern of energy flow through the body.
Numerous energy patterns intersect at areas called chakras which coincide with nerve plexuses.
We practice 108 Surya Namaskars to ensure the we activate all of these MARMAS and ENERGIES the entire body.
108 is 12 times the number 9.
Which is the number of vinyasas (movements linked to breath) in a Sun Salutation.
108 is the number of “Upanishads” in Indian philosophy.
These texts directly inform Yoga practice.
108 is twice the number 54.
Which is the number of letters in the Sanskrit alphabet.
2 sets of the Sanskrit alphabet are always presented – 1 set of masculine (SHIVA) and 1 set of feminine (SHAKTI) letters.
108 BEADS
108 beads on a MALA (Indian & Tibetan mala meditation beads)
108 beads on a Catholic rosary
108 is the Chinese number representing “man”.
108 Stitches
Baseball
Softball
In INDIA 🇮🇳 the number 108 is the emergency number
911 is the emergency number in Canada. 🇨🇦
Why do we practice the Sun Salutation Sequence?
The Sun Salutation sequence is designed to create “TAPAS” or INNER HEAT that CLEANSES the BODY.
The “mandala” or circular pattern of the poses brings us into a state of focused moving meditation.
The inner heat and focused moving meditation enables us to peel away unnecessary layers of thought, emotions or physical baggage.
As we let go of these layers, we allow our full potential and highest ideals to emerge.
In Sun Salutations, your breath is your guide that links one pose to the next. Breath takes you in and out of each pose.
When we practice Surya Namaskar with focus on breath, we are able to use our exhale to let go, releasing those things that no longer serve us, and then inhale new ways of being that will nurture us.
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