Salute the Sun

Many years ago, before I started teaching yoga I would go to my local gym to take group yoga classes. I met a teacher there who introduced me to this seasonal practice of 108 sun salutations on the equinox's and solstices. And not every, but most season changes since then over the last 10+ years I have moved through and sometimes taught this practice.

And here we are less than a month away from the vernal or spring equinox. This practice is used as a moving meditation to mark the change and transition of season.

108 is a sacred number, and is found in many places. Mala beads and rosaries are made up of 108 beads. The distance from Earth to the Sun is approximately 108 times the Sun's diameter, and the distance to the Moon is 108 times the Moon's diameter. There are 108 sacred sites in India. The heart chakra is said to have 108 nadis (energy lines) that converge to form this energy center. And that's just a few ways in which 108 shows up in the universe. There are many more!! (Google them, you will be amazed!)

The spring equinox this year is on Friday March 20th at 10:46am. For my own practice of welcoming in the new season, I will be practicing my 108 in 9 sets of 12 sun salutations. I use a board with holes cut out and marbles to keep count. I like to add some balancing poses in between sets. And drink lots of water. I invite you to find a way to honor the change of season. Releasing the old energy. Welcoming in the new seeds of spring.