Here Comes the Sun

It's the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.  Some how though I think it may feel like the shortest.  The week is already slipping away, the countdown well begun.  On Monday next week I will be en route to Utah.  The husband, the girls, the dog, the cat and I will be flying westward.  We'll actually be with the sun much longer that day then on the solstice due to the time difference.  Because of all the long days with extra daylight I think I'm going to declare it Sun Week.

I have a lot to do and I find my energy is lagging.  I know part of it is due to the sadness I'm feeling about leaving MD.  I would be completely happy if it rained all week, it would match my mood.  It's not going to though, it's supposed to be hotter with more sun.  I guess this means I should harness some of that energy, heaven knows I have a lot more to do.  I need to put everything in order, I need to clean, pack, sort, run last minute errands, take my car to the mechanic, enjoy my friends, use local gift certificates I received from places I have taught yoga and from my girl scouts and their families. All the days seem too short and yet I don't have enough energy to keep up.  The fact that I severely dislike feeling my time slip away also makes me depressed feeding the cycle of no energy.  I feel like I'm sinking in the mud.  I have let the Kapha (http://www.bluelotusayurveda.com/doshas.html Blue Lotus Ayurveda, 2001-2010) part of my being take over.  I need to kick start the Pitta energy, the Agni (inner fire) needs to take over.  I must shine my radiant energy outward toward the tasks which need to be completed in just a few short days.  I need to rise a little earlier and get things accomplished in the morning.  I need to breathe deeper this week and combine the energy built up over the last 2 weeks.  Linking my open heart with my position of surrender, all the while making myself more buoyant on the breath.


Generally on the solstice yogis do 108 Sun Salutations (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/108_%28number%29 Wikipedia, 2011).  I will however be focusing on the Sun Breath.  The Sun Breath is the first part of the various Sun Salutation sequences.  Often when teaching I use this breath sequence to warm my students up and it becomes a place to build vinyasa (yogic flow) from.  Normally I would do it 7-10 times to warm up, but I want my practice to consist predominately of the posture of the week so I will attempt to do 108.  I'm not sure I'll do 108 in a row.  I think I'll need to throw a down dog or 10 in between somewhere.  Just so you know I will take my time but if a head rush starts coming on I know child's pose and I'm not afraid to use it!  My purpose is to see if I can be more productive.   Can I accomplish more and feel more energetic and possibly more happy and positive if I stoke my inner fire with prana (life energy).  If I walk the thin line of duality between the vulnerable open heart and the surrendering of the forward fold while riding the waves of breath will I find the path I seek?


The Sun Breath will be a big part of my wake up call this week.  I will do as many as I can over the next few days.  I will do them in the morning upon waking and at any time during the day when I need a little more pep.  I will allow myself to be open to the possibilities of the future but will always return to my inner self to find support, compassion and peace.