June 22, 2010
This week, the local chapter of Yoga For Good hosted an event at a nearby college to support the Wounded Warrior Project. It was called, "108 Sun Salutations" and that's just what it was--yoginis gathered together to perform the yoga pose, or asana, called "Sun Salutation" to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Even after eight years of yoga classes, I had to ask, "Why One Hundred, Eight?" (Why not 14 or 23 or even 1?) The answer is that in yoga, 108 is a significant or sacred number. Someone who has studied Indian philosophy may be able to supply a reason, but I can't. It just is.
In preparation for the event, our weekly yoga class had been concentrating on the study of this basic yoga pose for several weeks, so our beloved yoga teacher, Phyllis, and several fellow students attended the early evening session as a group. It was held in the beautiful dance studio at Washington College and when things got going, the room was filled nearly to capacity with approximately 75 yoginis. The hostess explained the rules as an introduction: Do what you can, rest when you need to, leave when you want and ENJOY. As we all went through our postures, a small group of musicians, a drummer, guitarist, and flutist, improvised a lovely musical soundtrack for the movements. When I found it necessary to take a break, I sat watching the others. The variations within the synchonicity was very interesting. Some were doing very smooth, mediatative sequences, others were more athletic in their motions. I noticed three friends doing their poses together and their dancelike movements reminded me of a ballet.
Afterwards, we enjoyed a light buffet of hummus, homemade pesto, veggies and fresh bread. Paul and I had attended primarily to support the yoga community and its charitable efforts, not knowing what to expect but we agreed that it was really fun and interesting. Summertime in Maryland is not my favorite season but I'm hoping to celebrate its start next year in exactly the same way.
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