Summer Solstice

“The sun’s rise and the sun’s retreat bookend our days with awe.” – Julia Baird, Phosphorescence

The sun’s energy and solar cycles can be powerful and splendid energies to work with. The sun has nourishing and healing properties. I always feel better after bathing in sunlight on a cool, crisp yet sunny day. Feeling the energy from the sun radiate down on the crown of the head, travelling down the body, down the spine to the fingers and toes. Sunrise can be an ideal time to practice yoga or meditation with the intention of new beginnings, whereas sunset is ideal for the intention of releasing and letting go.

In Dru Yoga we honour the awe and wonder of the sun with the Salutation to the Sun sequence or in Sanskrit Surya Namaskara. Practising the sun sequence warms, strengthens and energises the whole body, activating your inner fire. It can be done slowly in a meditative way or more dynamically for aerobic exercise. Done regularly the sun sequence brings great emotional and mental balance. It is best practiced at sunrise or sunset to harness the power and strength of the sun to set your intentions.

The term solstice is derived from the Latin solstitium. It’s made up of the Latin sol, “the sun,” and sistere, “to stand still.” The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year before the sun’s path reverses direction and in the southern hemisphere it is on Monday 21 December 2020. This year on the Summer Solstice Jupiter and Saturn come so close to each other they will almost look like a single shining planet in the sky. If you are a night sky observer you will have noticed Saturn has been trailing Jupiter across the night sky over the past few months. The two planets will draw closer and closer in the next three weeks, until they appear together above the western horizon around an hour after sunset on December 21, 2020 at 7.22pm. This event, known as a grand conjunction, happens about once every 20 years and you can read more in this ABC News article.

This year’s Summer Solstice is an auspicious time to honour the sun and allow the welcoming arms of nature to embrace you. Join me in partnership with the Friends of the Bunbury Garden Labyrinth to practice yoga and mindful walking on Monday 21 December 2020, 5.30pm to 6.30pm at the Bunbury Garden Labyrinth, Cobblestone Drive, Bunbury. This will be the last yoga class I offer for 2020 and there is no charge however if you can please indicate you are ‘going’ on the Facebook event or RSVP via email to text to myself. Bring your own mat, water bottle and maybe hat and sunglasses. We will practice the Salutation to the Sun sequence and a pranayama practice known as Surya Bhedana or “piercing the sun” which assists to access the solar qualities such as joy, enthusiasm and creativity. This will be followed by an opportunity to walk to labyrinth mindfully and closing with a short standing meditation.

To celebrate the end of Term 4 and the end of 2020 I am also inviting you to come along to an EquanimiTEA morning tea at the Capelberry Cafe Saturday 19 December 2020, 10.45am. The morning tea will be held straight after the last Saturday morning yoga class at the Capel Community Centre 9.30am to 10.30am and you all are welcome to attend this class as well with your 10 class pass or paying for a casual class. Coffee, tea or other beverages are being provided FREE courtesy of the Shire of Capel and LotteryWest funding for local business support and there maybe even some free cake!

2020 has been a big year for all of us and I have decided to take a full break from offering yoga classes over Christmas and New Year so I will not be offering regular weekly yoga in the park over the summer school holidays this year. Watch my Facebook page for some FREE pop up yoga and mindful walks around the parks of Dalyellup in January. Classes will recommence for Term 1 the week of Monday 1 February 2021 and it is my intention to continue a regular weekly class Monday evenings in Dalyellup, Friday mornings in Gelorup and Saturday mornings in Capel. Class prices will remain the same: $10 per class if book for a whole term, $12 per class with a 10 class pass ($120) or $15 per class for casual attendance. In 2021 I will also be offering an annual pass of $400 per annum (paid upfront) to attend any regular weekly yoga class (unlimited so could attend all 3 classes per week) or $40 per month paid by recurring direct debit. Please contact me if you would like to know more about this annual pass.

I look forward to sharing the end of 2020 with you over the next few weeks as we take time to rest and reflect before setting our intentions for 2021 with courage, inner fire, sparks of passion and the power of the Celtic Goddess Aine who represents the spark of life. A reminder of the radiance of summer and of the power of love and joy to help us find light in the dark.