Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, and I say it's all right
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here Here comes the sun, here comes the sun and I say it's all right
Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here Here comes the sun, here comes the sun and I say it's all right
When I used to hear this song back when I was a kid, it never failed to make me happy. Imagine my joy when I put some music (Mark Whitwell's Pure Love Project CD) on at one point in my morning practice and heard this song sampled in. You can get the full version of this wonderful song at the MySpace music player below:
Not only does this wonderful song honor the sun, but it also includes Mark Whitwell's wonderful wisdom -- "Yoga is not about getting somewhere as though you aren't already Somewhere...Everybody is completely loved and completely cared for." -- spoken by Mark himself. I tend to play this song at some point during my morning practice because it just feels so fitting. What could be better than this song to usher in the comingSummer Solstice?
I started celebrating the solstice a few years back because I love what it represents -- a time of new beginnings of rebirth and hope of plenty. I never paid attention to the solstice until I met a wonderful free spirit who used to celebrate in her own unique way. After doing a little research, I realized that the solstice is a wonderful thing to celebrate. In today's hectic world, we've lost touch with our connection to the earth and acknowledging the solstice is a great way to get back in touch with the nurturing source (gee, could it be a coincidence that Mark titled his song Nurturing Source?) and its natural rhythms. It's easy to forget about our natural rhythms, so a little reminder once in a while is a good thing.
I'm going to celebrate in my own way, and it'll definitely include Mark's lovely and uplifting song. I might just get outside and practice yoga sans mat -- with my feet directly touching the earth. I might even do one of my favorite things -- sun bathe nude. Although I've never been one to lay out and tan (I like my Casper the Friendly Ghost complexion, thank you very much), a few years ago I started to lay in the sun au natural for about 20 minutes (10 minutes on each side). There's something wonderfully delicious and sensuous about letting the sun kiss your naked body. If you're going to go this route, I suggest a private setting!
NYC yogis tend to celebrate in their own special way -- in Times Square NY. Every year I see ads for Solstice in Times Square and every year I find myself seeking pure earth rather than concrete. Still, the idea is an interesting one. If you're in or around New York,check it out.
If you're a bit too shy to go raw in the sun or the thought of getting into celebration mode over something as off-beat as the solstice makes you cringe, try doing something that celebrates you. Being a bit of a traditionalist (actually, I think it's more accurate to say "one with little imagination"), I used to herald in the longest day of the year by honoring the sun with some Sun Salutations. Let me tell you -- 108 Sun Salutations take a loooooong time. How about just getting outside and going for a hike? Or perhaps getting up early to watch the sunset, or if you're an evening person, watch the sun rise.
This is a celebration we can all appreciate -- after all, who doesn't love the longer days of summer? I've loved them since I was a kid and I still find that I have a childlike exuberance about it all. This year I'm going to hunt down some fireflys to really make the whole celebration complete. I think the thought of new beginnings and rebirth is something we all welcome. So why not celebrate?
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Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right
Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right
When I used to hear this song back when I was a kid, it never failed to make me happy. Imagine my joy when I put some music (Mark Whitwell's Pure Love Project CD) on at one point in my morning practice and heard this song sampled in. You can get the full version of this wonderful song at the MySpace music player below:
Not only does this wonderful song honor the sun, but it also includes Mark Whitwell's wonderful wisdom -- "Yoga is not about getting somewhere as though you aren't already Somewhere...Everybody is completely loved and completely cared for." -- spoken by Mark himself. I tend to play this song at some point during my morning practice because it just feels so fitting. What could be better than this song to usher in the comingSummer Solstice?
I started celebrating the solstice a few years back because I love what it represents -- a time of new beginnings of rebirth and hope of plenty. I never paid attention to the solstice until I met a wonderful free spirit who used to celebrate in her own unique way. After doing a little research, I realized that the solstice is a wonderful thing to celebrate. In today's hectic world, we've lost touch with our connection to the earth and acknowledging the solstice is a great way to get back in touch with the nurturing source (gee, could it be a coincidence that Mark titled his song Nurturing Source?) and its natural rhythms. It's easy to forget about our natural rhythms, so a little reminder once in a while is a good thing.
I'm going to celebrate in my own way, and it'll definitely include Mark's lovely and uplifting song. I might just get outside and practice yoga sans mat -- with my feet directly touching the earth. I might even do one of my favorite things -- sun bathe nude. Although I've never been one to lay out and tan (I like my Casper the Friendly Ghost complexion, thank you very much), a few years ago I started to lay in the sun au natural for about 20 minutes (10 minutes on each side). There's something wonderfully delicious and sensuous about letting the sun kiss your naked body. If you're going to go this route, I suggest a private setting!
NYC yogis tend to celebrate in their own special way -- in Times Square NY. Every year I see ads for Solstice in Times Square and every year I find myself seeking pure earth rather than concrete. Still, the idea is an interesting one. If you're in or around New York,check it out.
If you're a bit too shy to go raw in the sun or the thought of getting into celebration mode over something as off-beat as the solstice makes you cringe, try doing something that celebrates you. Being a bit of a traditionalist (actually, I think it's more accurate to say "one with little imagination"), I used to herald in the longest day of the year by honoring the sun with some Sun Salutations. Let me tell you -- 108 Sun Salutations take a loooooong time. How about just getting outside and going for a hike? Or perhaps getting up early to watch the sunset, or if you're an evening person, watch the sun rise.
If you'd like to see some breathtaking pictures of how others around the world celebrate the solstice, click here.
This is a celebration we can all appreciate -- after all, who doesn't love the longer days of summer? I've loved them since I was a kid and I still find that I have a childlike exuberance about it all. This year I'm going to hunt down some fireflys to really make the whole celebration complete. I think the thought of new beginnings and rebirth is something we all welcome. So why not celebrate?
Enjoy the solstice!
Namaste!