108SunSalutesWinter

Kali Yuga Yoga
Yoga For Citizens of the Kali Yuga

108 Sun Salutes

Winter Solstice Edition

Friday, December 22
6:30PM – 8:30PM
with Jo-Jo Jackson

Deepen your sense of stability through the practice of 108 sun salutations and chanting in honor of the Earth’s return journey to the sun! This grounding yoga practice is suitable for all levels of practitioners with a desire to deepen their practice by invigorating the body, quieting the mind and living in the truth of intentions on and off our mats utilizing the healing energy of the Winter Solstice!

About the Winter Solstice:
The Winter Solstice is the shortest day and the longest night. Earth is farthest away from the sun, and we have come through the cycle of the seasons. In Ayurveda, winter begins in Vata season--characterized by dry, windy, cold weather--and ends in Kapha season, considered the first season of a new life cycle, and represents the creation of the beginning. Whereas early winter’s Vata is ruled by wind and ether, late winter’s Kapha is ruled by water and earth, and is a perfect time to deepen our sense of grounded stability, develop nurturing & self-sustaining habits, and offer ourselves time to rest, restore and replenish our "ojas." Thus, honoring this celestial event helps put us in tune with nature's best time to rest, strengthen, and ground into your intentions.

About the number 108:
The term Surya Namaskara comes from the Sanskrit words Surya, meaning “the sun” and Namah, meaning “hail (to)” or “salutations (to)”; hence the term “Sun Salutations.” To deepen our honoring of and connection to the sun’s radiant energy during pitta season, we will incorporate the devotional (bhakti) practice of repetitive chanting (japa mantra) of the six seed syllables (bija mantra) Hram Hrim Hrum Hraim Hraum Hrah while moving through the sun salutations. These six bija mantra are representative of 12 names of Surya (the sun). By chanting these seed syllables while moving through the sun salutations, we can better align and tune ourselves to the sound vibrations of the sun’s energy and energize our practice on and off our mats.

While 108 may seem like a random figure, there is no coincidence why this digit was selected as the number of times we will move though the sun salutation, as the number 108 has long been considered a sacred number in Hinduism and yoga, and a powerful astronomical number in ancient and modern science. Examples are:
* The diameter of the Sun multiplied by 108 equals the distance between Sun and Earth
* The diameter of the Moon multiplied by 108 equals the distance between Earth and Moon
* The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth
* There 108 marma points (sacred places) of the body
* 108 nadis (energy channels) converge to form anahata (heart) chakra
* There are 108 beads in a mala
* 1 yuga (Earth cycle) is 2,160 years, which is 108x20
* 12 astrological constellations and 9 arc segments form the zodiac; 12x9=108
* 9 planets travel through the 12 zodiac signs; 9x12=108
* 6 bija mantra represent the 12 names of the Sun; 6x18=108 and 9x12=108

Overall, the number108 is representative of wholeness and oneness through all of existence; half of 108 (54) represents the divine masculine (Shiva/ Purusha) and divine feminine (Shakti/ Prakriti) energies that moves through us all.

About the 108 Sun Salute practice:
We will actively exist in the moment of this powerful solstice by practicing the classical Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskara) to stoke our internal fire (agni) and cultivate self-discipline and perseverance in order to detoxify and purify our body through that heat (tapas), and to serve as a catalyst to energize our personal drive and self-determination for positive change and devotion to our intentions on and off our mats.

To deepen our sense of connection of our individual Self to the greater universal Self, we will incorporate the devotional (bhakti) practice of repetitive chanting (japa mantra) of the six seed syllables (bija mantra) "Hram Hrim Hrum Hraim Hraum Hrah" while moving through the sun salutations. These six sounds are representative of 12 names of Surya (the sun). By chanting these seed syllables while moving through the sun salutations, we can better align and tune ourselves to the sound vibrations of the sun’s energy, and energize and balance our practice on and off our mats.

We will break down the 108 sun salutations to 9 rounds of 12 sun salutations with short breaks in between segments to rest, meditate, take water or restroom break, walk outside or however the student feels fit. We will observe peaceful silence (mauna) as we hold this resting space.

The class will conclude with meditation then savasana accompanied by singing bowls and chanting of the Ayurmantra for health and wellbeing.

REGISTRATION
$30

1011 Fatherland Street d East Nashville, TN 37206
info@kaliyugayoga.com