Happy Summer Solstice!

Yesterday was the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and the shortest day in the Southern Hemisphere. It marks an important transition period in our 365-day journey around the sun – when the earth is tilted toward that great big ball of gas in such a way that gives us here in the US the most amount of sunlight in 24 hours. Solstice in Latin comes from “sol” meaning sun, and “sistere/stitium” meaning ‘to make stand’ or ‘stop and be still.’

This standing or stillness of the sun on June 21st marks a change in the seasonal rhythm, and is a perfect opportunity to pause for our own personal reflection and stillness. A breathing practice that focuses on pausing at the bottom of the exhale gives the body and mind a moment to reset before the next inhale – preparing for maximum upward movement and outward expression. The next time you find yourself with even five minutes free, try taking a few deep breaths with the eyes closed and pause for a few seconds to retain the breath after completely exhaling. As you inhale feel the abdomen, rib cage, and chest rise – mindfully feeling those three parts expand, and then slowly contract on the exhale and pause again at the bottom. Repeat as many times as you can – observing the energy within the body increase and rise up the spine after every pause.

For me, summertime is a season filled with growth in the natural world: green and lush trees, crops rapidly growing and producing, flowers blooming, and incredible abundance. It means more times outdoors in nature both in the daytime and evening, and a feeling of freedom and fun. Growing up I loved staying outside through dusk, watching the lightning bugs come out twinkling, and listening to sounds of our backyard woods gradually change. Being near a body of water and swimming was also a large part of summertime, and to me being submerged in water is one of life’s greatest simple pleasures.

Wherever you may be for this solstice, I hope that you find moments of stillness even within the heat, change, momentum, and activity that summer tends to bring. Yesterday I taught yoga at Cook Farm on a rainy and stormy evening, showing just how variable these months can be. Happy Summer!