Last night, I went to what was billed as a “Winter Solstice Celebration” at my favorite yoga studio. I don’t go to yoga classes nearly as much as I’d like to, but when I read about this event, I signed up online without hesitation. A little yoga, some good food and company … what better way to spend a Saturday night!
When I arrived, the studio was lit only with candles and we began class with some relaxing restorative postures. So far so good. But the teacher kept talking about the significance of the number 108 in the Hindu tradition. There are 108 Hindu deities. The distance between the Earth and the Sun is 108 times the Sun’s diameter. 108 is therefore the number that leads us to our own Divinity. Eventually she brought us out of our restorative poses and onto our feet. And then she said “In this practice of 108 Moon Salutations …”
Yikes! 108 Moon Salutations in a row? While not as challenging as Sun Salutations, doing 108 of any yoga flow is daunting at best. What had I gotten myself into? And so we started, one set of eighteen after another, using different variations for each set, taking a few minutes to rest here and there. We even threw in a couple of sets of Sun Salutations, just to keep things interesting.
Had I known what this Winter Solstice Celebration entailed, I would have never signed up! But sometimes we receive exactly what we need, without even knowing that we needed it. I’ve been feeling a little daunted by my own highest vision of what 2008 could bring, and the responsibilities that would go along with my intentions. After 108 cycles of saluting the sun and the moon, I had found my strength, my determination, and my dedication to my spiritual practice – whatever form that might take. 108 cycles of saluting the sun and the moon, and I was completely confident in my ability to handle whatever the new year might bring.
Sometimes we receive exactly what we need from this loving Universe. Before we can even consciously see the need ourselves, our Higher Self and our Guides and helpers in Spirit prepare the nurture we crave. So in this crazy time of holiday mayhem, I invite you to click on a few of the articles in today’s Carnival. In one or more of these wonderful articles, you may find exactly what you need right now, even without being aware of the need at all. Enjoy!
CG Walters presents Finding the One Truth? posted at Into the Mist.
Tupelo Kenyon presents Consciously Programming Your Subconscious Mind Before Sleep posted at Tupelo Kenyon.
Albert Foong presents Psychology’s unique contribution to your Compassion and Self-Esteem posted at Urban Monk.
Peter25 presents Leading A More Productive Life Via Segment Intending posted at Small Business.
Mathieu Wells presents Truth behind Fear and Pain posted at Mat’s Blog.
Edith presents The Last Day of My Life posted at Edith Yeung.Com: Dream. Think. Act..
Wanda Grindstaff presents Adding Rocket Fuel to the Law of Attraction – Success with Major Goals posted at Creating Abundant Lifestyles.
Patricia Singleton presents Childhood Memories posted at SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF A LIGHTWORKER.
Joshua C. Karlin presents How Should We Give? posted at Marketing & Fundraising Ideas.
Tina Su presents How to Really Listen to Someone posted at Think Simple. Be Decisive..
David B. Bohl presents Are Smart and Spiritual Mutually Exclusive? posted at Slow Down Fast Today!.
Pat Ruppel presents Attachments posted at Plain Talk and Ordinary Wisdom.
I wish you many blessings for this holiday season. If you’d like to join me in setting intentions for 2008, please sign up for my free Teleclass on Saturday, December 29th at 9 a.m.PST/Noon EST. I’ll be talking about how to make New Year’s resolutions that actually stick, and will also be doing live readings during the call. Visit my Classes page to sign-up.
Blessings,
Andrea
Filed under: Embrace Your Highest Path and Purpose
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Andrea, thanks for including my article. I know we will all have a glorious 2008 ahead of. Merry Christmas to all.
Thank you, Andrea, for including me in this fine collection of inspirational works.
many blessings to you and all you hold dear,
CG
Oh this is something I needed now…I used do yoga regularly … now its like 4 times in a week…It is important that we should include yoga for health in our daily routine for approximately 30 minutes. Meditation and some other relaxing exercises are the usual end for everyday yoga practice.
Andrea – thank you for your edition this holiday season and thank you for including my submission. I’ve enjoyed your carnival and have enjoyed Patricia Singleton’s blog and her mention of you and Paula Kwal and how it’s helping her on her spiritual journey. They’ve helped me as well. I have stumbled this carnival edition and really appreciate the work you’re doing.
Hi Andrea,
What a wonderful post. My husband, who is a Kripalu Yoga Teacher, and I host a winter solstice party every year as well. We have a wonderful class, which is always very experiential and deep, and then we all sit down to a great potluck lunch. It’s a wonderful feeling to have that kind of community. It’s actually a respite during what is usually a frenetic time of the year.
Thank you, everyone, for all your wonderful articles that make this Carnival special!!! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday!
Mary – do you do 108 moon or sun salutations at your solstice parties? Is that a tradition I was just completely unaware of? Or is that unique to my studio? I’d love to know what you include in your class/party! Now that I can walk again (yes, I was really, really SORE) I’d actually like to do that again sometime …
Blessings to all!
Andrea
Andrea- No we don’t do 108 sun/moon salutations at our Winter Solstice party; I think we would have a mutiny of sorts if we did. That must be unique to your studio. We tend to do fun poses like the Christmas Tree (tree), Ice Skater (dancer), Candle (mountain), as well as stretches for Santa Claus, Candy Cane, and Garland, etc. We even make it into a little Christmas story. I’ve been telling my husband he should publish it in some way; it would be great for children’s yoga, but we adults love it as well. It’s alot of fun and we have a great time.