If you know anything about me, you know that I f*cking LOVE Christmas. But a lot of people get anxious around the holidays...can you blame them? This chaotic time of year is a pressure cooker of expectations. Between the endless to-do lists, mandatory gatherings, crushing all the work deadlines before the end of the year, the venomous influence of capitalism telling us that we have to buy a bunch of sh*t, and the general hustle of trying to make everything perfect...it feels like there’s no time to breathe, let alone reflect.
Enter…**drumroll**...the Winter Solstice! It's the year's shortest day, the longest night, and your cosmic permission to hit pause. It’s the perfect opportunity to slow down, reset, and reconnect. And what better way to do that than with the ancient, transformative practice of 108 Sun Salutations? Trust me, it’s not as scary as it sounds. Okay, maybe a little. But trust me, it’s worth it - just like everything in life that terrifies us at first! Let’s break it down.
The Significance of 108: It’s Not Just a Random Number
First of all, 108 is not just some arbitrary number yoga teachers made up to torture you. It’s deeply symbolic. It shows up a lot in ancient traditions. Here are some reasons we care about it:
Mala Beads: Traditional malas have 108 beads, used for meditation. Each bead is like a little prayer.
Buddha, Buddha, Buddha: In Buddhism, there are 108 earthly desires that one musc overcome to achieve enlightenment.
Cosmic Sh*t: The distance between the Earth and Sun is about 108 times the Sun’s diameter. Same with the Earth and Moon. Coincidence? I think not.
Math Is Awesome: The angles of a pentagon are 108 degrees, symbolizing harmony and balance.
Numbers Are Also Awesome: 1+0+8 equals 9, which symbolizes completion.
Physical Yoga Philosophy: According to Ayurveda, there are 108 sacred energy points in the human body.
More Awesome Numbers: 1 = Something. 0 = Nothing. 8 = Everything (infinity). Cool, right?!?
…among SO many other significant meanings!
When you flow through 108 Sun Salutations, you’re connecting to something bigger than yourself. You’re aligning with the universe - and it does feel like it, too.
Why Do This on the Winter Solstice?
The winter solstice is a turning point. It’s about letting go of what no longer serves you (goodbyeeee, toxic energy!) and making space for what’s to come. Practicing 108 Sun Salutations on this day is like:
Hitting Reset: Release the old, welcome the new. It’s Marie Kondo, but for your soul.
Building Strength: Mentally, physically, spiritually. You’ll sweat. You’ll smile. You might curse the yoga gods. And then you'll feel snatched. It’s all part of the process!
Embracing the Light: Symbolically and literally. The days start getting longer after the solstice, and you’re here for it.
Is This Even Worth It?
Of course it is, silly! Here are some of the benefits:
Physical: Your body will thank you. You’ll build strength, endurance, and flexibility. Bonus: it’s a killer workout (YAS, arms).
Mental: Repetition is meditative. By round 50, your mind might actually chill out.
Spiritual: It’s a moving meditation. A prayer in motion. A way to connect with yourself and the universe (those are your two favorite things).
How to Survive - I Mean Prepare
If you’re new to this, don’t panic. You can do it. Here’s how to ease into it:
Set an Intention: Why are you doing this? To let go of 2024’s nonsense? To embrace the new season with open arms? Pick your why, and come back to it.
Modify Like a Boss: Can’t do all 108? Cool. Drop your knees, skip steps, or do fewer. Yoga is not about suffering!
Pace Yourself: Give yourself plenty of time (maybe block off 2 hours if you’re a beginner), and take breaks. It’s a marathon, it’s not a sprint!
Hydrate: Sip water. You’ll need it.
Breathe: Inhale, exhale. Repeat. Seriously, this part is the most important.
But Jackie, Have You Even Done It?
I sure have, my little kittens! And I survived. And it was awesome. The first time I attempted 108 Sun Salutations was for the Summer Solstice this past June. And honestly it was a bit rough. I didn’t give myself enough time, so I had to break it up into sections throughout the day (pro tip: this is totally fine!).
Fast forward to this morning’s Winter Solstice attempt, and it was a whole different story. I blazed through the first half like my life depended on it…probably because I was trying to get it over with. I took a much-needed breather after 54 to remember why the f*ck I was doing this in the first place (another pro tip: if you find yourself drifting, find a moment to come back to your intention). For the second half, I was totally in the zone. By round 70, I was more in tune with my body than I’d been in ages. By round 108, I was levitating. Okay, maybe not levitating (I was more grounded than that), but I was definitely floating on a cloud of pride and endorphins.
Here’s the thing: it’s a journey. Every repetition teaches you something about yourself. Mostly, it’s that you’re a badass who can do literally anything you set your mind to, even if it’s 108 of something.
Here's the proof that I did it! (Except it was NOT this fast - it was certainly a bit slower and more mindful).
Final Thoughts
Whether you do 108 or 8, the magic is in showing up. The winter solstice is your chance to pause, reflect, and set intentions for the year ahead, despite the fact that the leaves are changing and things feel a little darker and colder. You can always find your warmth and light. Through these Sun Salutations, you can embrace the darkness, welcome the light, and remind yourself that you’re capable of amazing things.
So, light a candle, roll out your mat, and let’s flow. Namaste (and good luck, baby!).
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