Honouring the Summer Solstice through Yoga

Honouring the Summer Solstice Through Yoga: A Time to Pause, Reflect and Reconnect

As the longest day of the year graces us with its golden light, the Summer Solstice offers a beautiful invitation: to slow down, reconnect with nature, and honour the inner light within ourselves. Rooted in ancient tradition, the solstice marks the peak of solar energy, the turning point where the days begin to slowly shorten again. In many cultures, it’s a time of celebration, gratitude, and spiritual connection.

For yogis, the Summer Solstice is more than just a seasonal event. It’s a moment to align body, mind and spirit with the rhythm of nature, to embrace stillness, bask in sunlight, and set meaningful intentions for the months ahead.

Why Honour the Solstice with Yoga?

Yoga is a practice deeply connected to cycles, of breath, of life, of the natural world. Just as we move through poses with mindfulness and intention, so too can we move through the seasons.

Practising yoga during the solstice helps us:

• Connect with the sun’s energy, drawing in its warmth and vitality

• Celebrate life, abundance, and all that we’ve cultivated so far this year

• Reflect inward, acknowledging what no longer serves us as we transition into a new phase

• Feel grounded, even amidst the height of summer activity

Ways to Celebrate the Solstice on the Mat

1. Start with Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar)Traditionally practised to honour the sun, Sun Salutations are a beautiful way to greet the day. Practising 12 rounds, one for each month of the year, can be a powerful moving meditation. Let each breath, each bow, and each reach of the heart towards the sky be an offering of gratitude.

2. Practise Outdoors if You CanLet your mat meet the earth. Practising yoga in the garden, on a quiet patch of grass, or near a body of water allows you to absorb the elements, feeling the sun on your skin, the breeze on your face, and the solid support of the ground beneath you.

3. Focus on Heart-Opening PosturesThe solstice invites us to open, our hearts, our minds, and our energy. Postures like Camel (Ustrasana), Bridge (Setu Bandhasana), and Upward Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana) can help release tension and invite joy and expansion.

4. Meditate on Light and IntentionTake a few quiet moments to sit in stillness. Focus on the warmth of the sun, or visualise a golden light within your heart. Ask yourself: What am I ready to let go of? What do I want to bring more of into my life? Set a simple intention to carry with you through the rest of summer.

5. End with Gratitude and GroundingClose your practice with a seated pose or Savasana. Feel into the earth’s support, and give thanks, for the light, the growth, and the journey so far. You might journal afterwards or simply sit with the feeling of wholeness and connection.