“Nurturing Seasonal Harmony In Your Yoga Practice and Daily Life”
This page offers a variety of information and tools you can integrate into your practice and life. Enjoy!
Summer is a time of abundant energy, warmth, and vibrant life. Our Summer Seasonal Flow centers around the Solar Plexus Chakra, inviting you to harness the season’s vitality to cultivate strength, understanding, and action. Let this flow be your guide to embracing the fiery energy of summer, both on and off the mat.
SUMMER AND ITS OFFERINGS. Summer is characterized by its intense energy, radiance, and the fullness of life. It’s a time to revel in the sun’s warmth, to expand your horizons, and to manifest your intentions with boldness and clarity. By aligning your practices with the qualities of summer, you can fully embrace this season’s dynamic vitality.
REST & REFLECTION: As the sun nurtures the earth, take time to reflect on your personal growth and achievements. Engage in activities that ground your energy, such as journaling at sunrise, meditative beach walks, or mindful moments in the garden. This is a time to celebrate your progress, reassess your goals, and dream with the confidence that summer’s energy brings.
ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT: Invigorate your body and spirit with yoga flows that emphasize strength, endurance, and empowerment. Incorporate poses that stimulate the core and enhance your inner fire, such as Boat Pose or Warrior III. Engage in outdoor activities like swimming, running, or participating in community sports to connect physically with summer’s dynamic energy.
Chakra: Solar Plexus (Manipura)
Element: Fire
Color: Yellow
New Moon July 5th Full Moon July 21st
Summer Solstice June 21st: (Midsummer Celebration) Celebrate the longest day of the year, basking in the sun’s full glory and drawing inspiration from its unwavering presence.
Summer and the Solar Plexus Chakra Connection: Summer is the perfect time to focus on the Solar Plexus Chakra, Manipura, which is associated with personal power, confidence, and transformation. As the sun nourishes all life, this chakra empowers you to take decisive action, stand in your truth, and shine brightly in your endeavors.
Symbolism of the Fire Element: Just as the sun’s fire fuels the earth, the fire element of the Solar Plexus Chakra fuels your willpower and determination. It symbolizes transformation, clarity, and the ability to manifest your desires with unwavering focus.
Cultivating Strength and Confidence: Summer’s abundant energy mirrors the power of the Solar Plexus Chakra. Let your yoga practice focus on poses that build core strength and ignite your inner fire, such as Plank Pose, Bow Pose, and twists. With each breath, cultivate a sense of empowerment and confidence, both in your practice and in your daily life.
Embracing Vitality and Action: Summer invites you to fully embody your potential and take bold actions towards your goals. Consider practices that stimulate your metabolism and energize your body, such as vigorous vinyasa flows, sun salutations, and energizing breathwork like Bhastrika (Bellows Breath).
Creating Rituals for Summer:
Morning Sun Salutations: Begin each day with a series of Sun Salutations, expressing gratitude for the sun’s energy and setting a powerful tone for the day ahead.
Sunbathing and Grounding: Spend time outdoors, soaking up the sun’s rays and grounding yourself by walking barefoot on the earth. This connection to nature reinforces your inner strength and stability.
Summer Cleanse: Engage in a seasonal cleanse or detox to revitalize your body and mind, using fresh, vibrant foods that reflect the season’s abundance.
Intention Manifestation: Write down your intentions and create a vision board, placing it where you can see it daily. Let the sun’s energy infuse your goals with clarity and determination.
Community Connection: Participate in community events like beach clean-ups or local festivals, fostering a sense of connection and shared joy within your community.
Quarterly Gathering: At the end of summer around August, join us for a community celebration to honor our collective growth and achievements. Share your experiences, reflect on the journey, and celebrate the vibrant energy of the season together. Embrace the radiant energy of summer with our Summer Seasonal Flow, and let the Solar Plexus Chakra guide you towards strength, vitality, and purposeful action.
Join us in this dynamic practice and discover the power of nurturing seasonal harmony in your yoga practice and daily life.
Summer Flow: Ignite Your Solar Vitality (July)
Integrating the 8 Limbs of Yoga for Solar Vitality
1. Yama (Ethical Guidelines): Tapas
Focus on Tapas, the yama of self-discipline and inner fire. Summer's vibrant energy supports your commitment to personal growth and transformation. Use this time to cultivate willpower and perseverance in both your practice and daily life.
2. Niyama (Personal Observances): SvadhyayaEngage in Svadhyaya, the practice of self-study and ref
lection. With the sun’s energy at its peak, take time to understand your deeper motivations and aspirations. Journaling and meditation are excellent ways to integrate this into your summer practice.
3. Asana (Physical Postures): Strengthening Poses
Summer’s energy is ideal for asanas that build strength and stimulate the Solar Plexus Chakra. Focus on core-strengthening poses such as:
Boat Pose (Navasana), Warrior III (Virabhadrasana III), Plank Pose (Phalakasana), Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)
4. Pranayama (Breath Control): Bhastrika (Bellows Breath)
Bhastrika, or Bellows Breath, is perfect for summer as it energizes and invigorates the body. This powerful breath technique boosts metabolism, enhances digestion, and fuels the inner fire of the Solar Plexus Chakra.
How to practice Bhastrika:
Sit in a comfortable position with a straight spine.
Take a deep breath in through your nose, filling your lungs completely.
Forcefully exhale through your nose, using your diaphragm to push the air out.
Continue with rapid, forceful breaths in and out, keeping the breath rhythmic.
Start with 10-15 breaths, gradually increasing as you become more comfortable.
5. Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Senses): Grounding Practices
Utilize grounding practices to draw your senses inward and balance the high energy of summer. Spending time in nature, walking barefoot, and practicing mindfulness can help you stay connected to the present moment and your inner self.
6. Dharana (Concentration): Visualization
Enhance your concentration with visualization techniques. Imagine a glowing, radiant sun at your Solar Plexus Chakra, radiating strength, confidence, and clarity throughout your body. This practice helps to focus your mind and energize your intentions.
7. Dhyana (Meditation): Solar Meditation
Meditate on the energy of the sun. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and visualize the warmth and light of the sun filling your body, illuminating your inner strength and potential. Allow this meditation to foster a deep sense of empowerment and purpose.
8. Samadhi (Union): Connection with Inner Fire
Achieve a state of Samadhi by connecting deeply with your inner fire and the vibrant energy of summer. Through consistent practice of the above limbs, feel the unity between your physical, mental, and spiritual selves, and experience a profound sense of harmony and fulfillment.
Mudra: Surya Mudra (Sun Mudra)
Surya Mudra enhances the fire element within the body, stimulating the Solar Plexus Chakra and boosting energy levels.
How to practice Surya Mudra:
Sit comfortably with your spine straight.
Bring your ring finger to the base of your thumb.
Press the thumb gently over the ring finger.
Keep the other three fingers extended and relaxed.
Hold this mudra for 15-30 minutes daily while focusing on your breath or during meditation.
Integrating into Summer Seasonal Flow:
Morning Practice: Begin with Sun Salutations and core-strengthening asanas to invigorate your body.
Midday Reflection: Practice Bhastrika pranayama to recharge and align with the sun’s energy.
Evening Meditation: End your day with solar meditation and Surya Mudra to harness the sun’s vitality and foster inner strength.
By integrating the 8 limbs of yoga with the Summer Seasonal Flow, you can fully embrace the dynamic energy of summer, cultivating strength, clarity, and a profound connection with your inner fire.
COMING SOON TO THE YOGA SPACE!
The Yoga Space has free access to our guided seasonal flow yoga class. Be a part of the Seasonal Flow Series and create consistency. Check out the schedule an all the other wonderful things that we incorporate with the quarterly seasonal flow series like workshops and additional tutorials.