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109 Sun Salutations!

On April 19, 2021, a few of us gathered virtually to attempt 108 or 109 Sun Salutation As. Why would one do this? you ask.

108 is a sacred number in yoga and other Eastern traditions. The light alignments in our bodies follow this number (108 nadis converge in the Anahata chakra and the 108 marma points in the Ayurvedic view of the subtle body). It’s also found in the alignment of our Sun, Moon and Earth (the distance between the Moon and the Earth is 108 moons, and the distance from the Earth to the Sun is 108 suns, and the diameter of the Sun is 108 earths!) The Himalayan Yoga Institute as a great article on how 108 manifests other ways in nature and spirituality.

Some yogis traditionally practice 108 surya namaskar (“obeisance to the sun”) at the change of seasons–the solstices and equinoxes. It’s a powerful practice to move stuck energy and to recenter the mind. We chose the day after the 108th day of the year (April 18) which happened to be a Sunday, hence the opportunity to tack on one more as we practice on Monday (April 19).

We know that Sun Salutations are a wonderful way to warm up and bring breath and awareness of prana to the body. They are physically a complete workout–aerobic, strengthening, and stretching. The spinal undulation of the asanas move the Golden River of the cerebrospinal fluid through the body with ease. Bringing ujjayi breath to the practice creates heat, strengthens the throat, and provides a meditative sound for the mind to focus on. If you don’t have a lot of time to practice, doing a few Sun Salutations will benefit the mind, body, and open you up to the presence of Spirit.

I had never done this challenge before. Even though we had been training for the past couple of months, adding more salutations to our practice, the most I had done in one stretch was 18. I admit, it was a daunting task and I approached it with the attitude of “We’ll see!”

The “breakdown” came at number 62. Even though my arms, shoulders and wrists could feel the effort and were shaking on the lift to salute the sun, physically I felt I could go on. But I was getting lightheaded in these last dozen or so and they were increasing into rivulets of energy that bloomed in the back of my neck, around the ears and concentrated at the third eye. The pressure there was so intense, I had to move my drishti downward and decided to take a child’s pose on the next salute. Three breaths in that pose and there was the headache again upon standing. So I sat in Vajrasana (Rock pose) and talked to my body & Spirit.

The ego was up. Just the word “challenge” brings any ego to the mat! The worries: What if I can’t do this? Does that make me an unfit yoga instructor? Who am I doing this for, anyway? My students had shown up virtually for support, done as many as they could and logged off to leave me in this existential crisis. I had to breathe and listen.

My body said I could finish. The headaches pointed to the problem: ego and mindset. The idea of work became the crux of the situation. Hard work. Yes, it exists in yoga. Tapas, or the discipline to practice, is necessary to enjoy the benefits of the practice. Getting to the mat is often the hardest thing we need to do. And what makes it hard? Our mindset. Then Spirit provided the mantra, the evolved sankalpa (intention): “There is no work. Only presence, focus, and love.”

We have a funny view of work in this culture. Americans are “workholics” and it’s shaped my personality and validation of Self since childhood. But in that moment on my knees, I realized to a deeper level that work as we have understood it is an illusion–a great part of maya. It is something we’ve created in the mass consciousness. As we surrender to the Divine Path, we are presented with opportunities to follow our passion. If it feels like “work”, then it’s not in your Divine Path, or you’ve created a block and you’ll know soon enough if this is a learning opportunity to open from the block or if it perpetuates the old patterns of limitation.

Presence, focus, and love. Those are the quintessential tools for the moment. If something is calling for action, we must be present to hear the call. Of all the probable paths of that action, we must focus to discern which one: Do I set 63 as my new record? Do I finish? Do I get up and comfort myself with a stack of pancakes? Of all the ways that Spirit can express OurSelf, the focusing is required to realize the Divine Path that is uniquely designed for YOU.

What’s left? Love. Always love. Love brings trust and ease and all the rest. Love the decision you make. If that’s easy, you know it’s the right one.

In my moment of presence, the focusing brought me a solution: Practice until 72, then take a restorative pose every 12 Sun Salutations. Ah! Yes! Love this idea! I did just that and the headaches went away. I could really feel the restorative properties of Supta Virasana (Reclining Hero), Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle) and a Forward Fold in Sukhasana (Easy Pose). There is ease supporting every “challenge.”

As I practiced so many other insights came with the tapas (spiritual vitality). It took me 3.5 hours with a nice Savasana at the end. I was soaring. A whole jar of water afterwards and I felt cleansed, refreshed and glowing like an Appalachian sunrise peeking over the peak. 108 Surya Namaskar to honor this year, the lessons we had practiced together and my path as a yoga instructor up until this point–“The Work.” 109 to step forward into the new, the Divine Path of this practice and all that is awaiting us in presence, focus, and love.

I recommend 108 Sun Salutations to anyone who feels fit, adventurous, and seeks to master the Mind of Limitations. If you’d like some support, let me know, and I’ll put it on our class calendar!