Solstice Sun Salutations (GoYOcean Mix #5)

Happy Solstice everyone!

Whether you are in the Northern Hemisphere like I am, or in the Southern Hemisphere, it is a potent time for sure. Here in the north, we experienced the shortest day of the year but also celebrate the return of light.

I have just posted GoYOcean #5: Solstice on Mixcloud to honor the occasion. It is one of my favorite times of the year - the night sky is open and people light their houses up with a huge amount of creativity.

Here is a link to the mix (as usual, I post the tracklist at the bottom and some musical commentary)

https://www.mixcloud.com/GoYOcean/goyocean-5-solstice/

Surya Namaskar A (Sun Salutation)
Solstice is a powerful time to practice yoga. Winter in general is a great time to focus inward and keep the fires warm. The body is often more stiff and needs more work to loosen up, but it is in this resistance that magic can happen. Yoga uses this resistance as fuel for learning!

This solstice, I want to focus on Sun Salutations, or “Surya Namaskar” in it’s sanskrit name. The breakdown of this phrase is “Surya” meaning “Sun” and Namaskar, which stems from “Namas” meaning “to bow to”. This posture is a moving prayer to the sun! It is a general body tonic and the Ashtanga Primary series starts with a healthy dose of these.

In Sanskrit there are 12 different names for the sun, and Surya Namaskar consists of 12 different movements strung together that can be practiced in a circular cycle. This posture has an A, B and C version.

Here is a video I found on YouTube that is a decent physical demonstration: (Thanks to YogawithLuna on YouTube)

This posture is thousands of years old, and it feels like an ancient and sacred gesture that involves not only spirit, but quite a bit of biomimicry. I often tell my classes that we can look to the ancient fern as a guide for this posture in how the fronds of the plant curl and uncurl in response to the sun.

This simple yet beautiful posture is a collaboration with the very essence of the planet on which we live and the entity that gives it life - the sun. I also see each yoga class I teach as a small contribution to the yogic blockchain of human consciousness.

The Music:

This mix starts with a track from legendary producer and composer Brian Eno. It is from the Apollo soundtrack he did several decades ago with Daniel Lanois. It reminds me of the pictures you see from outer space when looking at our earth and solar system. I chose this track because it is PERFECT to get your sun salutations happening.

This mix features a few tracks from Bonobo, an artist I have been listening to for years. Bonobo has that rare quality of being wordly, current and deep on multiple levels. The quality of the production is great for the ears and body, and it is a joy to teach yoga to his music. The two tracks on this mix are off of the recent album “Migration” which has been nominated for a GRAMMY.

Here is the track listing:
Brian Eno: An Ending (Ascent)
Peter Gregson: Sequence (Four)
The Hilliard Ensemble: Kyrie eleison II
Bonobo: Migration
Mt. Wolf: Tucana
Olafur Arnalds: Only the Winds (Ryan Davis’ A Letter From Far Away Variation)
Emancipator: Dusk to Dawn
D.P. Kaufman: Bravery
Caledon City: Below the Alpine
Julian Calor: Rain
Bonobo: Break Apart
Kidswaste: Time
Helios: Awe
Telefon Tel Aviv: Life Is All About Taking Things Out and Putting Things In
Goldmund: Sometimes