My intention for this month’s classes is the subtle radiance of the solar energy. I was thinking of it as we are approaching the Summer Solstice. The time when we traditionally honour and celebrate the sun.
The sun that is life-giving, offers us light and illumination.
This is also why I want to share morning yoga during the week of the Solstice. From Monday the 20th to Friday the 24th of June we get on the mat at 7am for half an hour yoga.
It is easy to celebrate the solar energy. We are happy to see the sun on a clear blue sky. Warming our skin and bones. The lighter and longer days often make for lighter moods too. The sun brings life.
The sun is fire. The fire element also gives us light so that we can see. The organ of perception (jnanendriya) is the eyes and the tanmatra is “form” (which we are able to see).
The Solar energy manifests in many ways. In āyurveda, we talk about the agni or fire element. It is part of pitta dosa. It’s our digestion (stomach) but also the metabolism that is in every single cell of our being.
In our society, we praise the solar energy. The part that is ambitious, busy, quick thinking, sharp, focused and has the typical type-A personality. We also do lots that increase the fire such as eating hot and spicy food, drinking alcohol and eating red meat. Being busy and stressed have the fire quality too. Even very vigorous exercise including power vinyasa and certainly hot power yoga increases the fire.
Excess fire can lead to inflammation (which can lead to anything from digestive issues to joint pain), hot flushes, indigestion, irritation, anger, burnout…
Because of this I often encourage the lunar energy. To counterbalance a society and culture that is busy sharp and all about doing – rather than being.
But the fire is important too. And we also have a more subtle fire; tejas.
Tejas is the pure fire of pitta doṣa. It is the illuminating light from the sun and the sacred fire or agni. It is insight, clarity, knowledge and intelligence. Learning to listen to our inner wisdom and our body’s intelligence will support our tejas.
Even gazing at a candle flame, such as in trāṭak meditation (candle gazing), enhances our tejas. Walking in the sun and embracing sun salutations and solar energy practices with enlightened intelligence can help balance tejas. As does the understanding of the natural rhythm of sunrise and sunsets.
So this is what we are embracing as we approach the Summer Solstice in our yoga sessions this month. Including our morning yoga between Monday the 20th to Friday the 24th of June between 7-7:30am.
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