Sun Salutations

This is a love story. And if you’re reading this, it’s probably your love story too.

I love to move, to feel my body moving in space, and to move in such a way that I can feel the movement inside of this body. To explore the edges of movement possibilities and to welcome the chosen limits I have learned to respect.

Inhale, lift your arms up.

I love to breathe deeply. I love to stretch my breath; perhaps even more than I love to stretch my muscles. I love to feel how my breath can support the movements I make; and to dial my attention in so that the meeting– the marriage — of each breath timed exquisitely with each movement feels magical, and mystical, too.

Exhale, fold down, touching earth.

I love ritual. Each day greeting the sun, honoring the earth. Each round of the surya namaskar ritual an opportunity to remember my connection with this earth and every living creature on it.

Inhale lengthen forward; Exhale, float back to chaturanga.

I love the challenge, the athleticism that I hope to embrace for many more moons to come. And, I love to create new pathways with the same intention, for the days when that athleticism is elusive. I even love karma, and will accept change when needed.

Inhale open your heart forward, and up to the sky.

I love to open to possibility. To imagine things beyond this moment, in time, in space; beyond me.

Exhale, press back to Downward Facing Dog. 5 breaths.

And, I love to come back – we always can! – to return to the familiar, the grounding, the feeling of home. Here, a moment of relative ease and stillness, in clear contrast to the flowing movements. To stay. To be. Here. Just breathe.

Exhale completely, hop to the top. Inhale elongate forward and exhale fold fully.

I love to fly. To trust my hands and my arms and be. in. the. air. (Is this what the hawk feels?)

And I love to land, and touch the earth again.

Inhale rise to stand, exhale hands down beside you.

I love to return, to complete the ritual. I love to feel my height: I am a mountain (tadasana), my balance and steadiness (samastithi) and to feel my breath become smooth and quiet. I’m ready for the next round.

But sometimes, these beloved movements, breath patterns and transitions are just not what we need. Sometimes we need to modify, and/or skip poses altogether. Sometimes we need something altogether different.

In this workshop we will explore ways to embrace the intentions of the beloved Sun Salutation: connecting breath and movement, creating ritual, building strength and flexibility, warming the body, and have a known pattern that allows a daily check-in, that helps us know who we are today. We will try on some new patterns, new rituals.

This workshop is for all who love Yoga. Whether you have been practicing sun salutations for many years, or hardly at all. Whether you are a teacher who wants to bring more ritual and self-study to your students; or just want to learn some new modifications for all levels of students. Let’s come together and share our love.