108 Sun Salutations

I've always loved a Yoga Mala. It's a traditional practice offered on the Summer Solstice to welcome the summer season. We practice 108 Sun Salutation A to honor the sun, which is responsible for all life. Why 108? The number 108 holds profound significance in yogic and Hindu traditions. It symbolizes spiritual completion, cosmic connection and the wholeness of the universe. Some of the many meanings associated with 108 include:

• Traditional malas (necklaces) contain 108 beads for meditation and prayer.

• Ancient Yogis identified 108 sacred energy lines (nadis) converging at the heart center.

• The distance between the Earth and the Sun is approximately 108 times the Sun's diameter.

• The number represents unity, transformation, and the connection between the individual self and the greater universe.

There's also 108 stitches on an official Major League baseball. That's the one I remember clearly!

As human beings, we are designed to seek out patterns. That's why this practice is so fulfilling!

I vaguely remember my first Yoga Mala. If it was in fact my first. On a Wednesday evening, in Studio Earth at Sol. Kristina Molinari leading it. I was in the front row. You may not know this about me. I'm incredibly competitive and I found the Mala to be a race. From what I recall, Kristina didn't cue each individual Sun Salutation so it was a "go at your own pace" kind of practice. All I wanted to do was finish first. I'm not sure if I did or a fellow named Steve. What I did know is I thought that if I finished first then I would be seen.

The next Yoga Mala was again led by Kristina. It happened to be right after Brody was born. His birthday was September 6 and the Fall Equinox was September 22 however the Mala was practiced on the 21st. I didn't think much about being three weeks postpartum and completing 108 Sun Salutations. Again, I just wanted to be first.

I'm not sure if I practiced any more Malas in that time. Nothing sticks out.

Yoga Mala as a teacher. My experience with Yoga Teacher Training was unconventional. After graduating, one of my first experiences teaching was Yoga on the Creek on a Thursday morning. It was a donation based offering from Sol. I'm sure they still do it. I happened to be scheduled for the Summer Solstice in 2017. There were 60+ people for that class. It was really hard to teach because they were spread out in a line and it was outside. However, I remember feeling accomplished when I left. I know I didn't lead 108 Sun Salutations but I did some kind of abbreviated version. My next attempt was for New Years Day 2018 where I co-lead with Christina and Anthony. That was an interesting experience to say the least. We had such different personalities. I'm sure it was great for the students but I left the practice feeling like I was too much.

When I teach, I'm loud. I'm boisterous. I take up of space. It's not because I'm trying too hard. It's who I am. Sometimes I don't recognize myself because I've spent so much time feeling invisible. When I teach, I become alive.

I hadn't thought about Yoga Malas for a long time. I'd been strictly focused on the Journey into Power practice. Last year, 2025, I subbed a Friday night Hot Power Flow for Gabby. Class was at 6pm and around 3 that afternoon I took a look at the calendar and realized what day it was. "It's the Summer Solstice!" Often when I step into other teacher's classes and feel imposter syndrome tenfold. That day I was like "let's do a Mala!" So out of character for me. I found some stones, probably from out front, and went in the room to teach. I turned down the lights and lit candles. I played Shamanic Dream. I went in with the idea that I was going to cue the first few Sun Sals and tell them to finish how ever many was left. Big mistake. When I did that, they were lost. I was dumbfounded, pivoted and cued the remaining Sun Salutations.

Surya Namaskar A

Inhale Rise. Exhale bow. Inhale halfway lift. Exhale chatarunga dandasana. Inhale upward facing dog. Exhale downward facing dog. Inhale. Exhale completely - top of the mat. Inhale halfway lift. Exhale bow. Inhale rise. Exhale anjala mudra (hands at heart center).

That was a lot of fun! I learned I could lead it on my own.

Two weeks ago I realized the Summer Solstice was going to land on a Sunday. Woot woot! I put it out there for my regulars. "Would you rather practice a 90 minute Journey into Power or a Yoga Mala?" I put it on social media and I took poll in studio.

The class sold out by the Tuesday before. That doesn't normally happen. The waitlist extended to six deep. I sent an email the day before letting them know the intention, the format and if their plans had changed to please cancel to let the waitlist in. By the time class started I had ten students drop off and we ended up having three open mats. I. Digress.

There was a student who was brand new to Yogamour who wasn't aware that we were doing a Mala. She was a trooper although I think she second guessed her decision to come this morning. ( I made sure to thank her for staying☺)

I spent a lot of time preparing for the class. I created intentions, a slide show and printed hand outs. I thought really hard about how hot to make the room. This practice should be transformative but not depleting or debilitating. I spent so much time on that but not on the actual teaching. By the time class started I was so nervous. I can't remember the last time I walked in feeling like that.

Nine sets of twelve Sun Salutation A with a 90 second or so break in between to journal or rest. No one journaled. I kept count by cuing a different student each time. The middle row happens to have 12 mats so I would just look at the student on the end and like a typewriter, move down the row. We opened with three oms. We om'd halfway. On the last round of twelve, I joined in. At the time I was like "what the fuck am I doing?" I have a back/hip injury and this could be the worst decision of my life. With each Salutation I counted "that's one!" When I got to four or five I said "you can count with me." That's where it crescendoed. The thirty two of us were like an orchestra at the climax of the piece of music we performed together.

The definition of Yoga is union.

Happy Summer Solstice 2026. The Year of the Fire Horse!