108 Sun Salutations

As apart of our yoga teacher training requirements each student had to complete a SEVA (public service) project. The project could either be done as an individual or a group. One student organized and suggested a fundraiser event for the Heartbeat of Greater Flint, a woman's shelter that focuses on the needs of pregnant women, new mothers, and children. As a group of five(pictured to the left) we divvied up tasks to make the event go smoothly. The plan was set to host 108 Sun Salutations at the Prana Yoga Center Studio in Grand Blanc on Friday, March 16th from 7-8:30pm. The proceeds (monetary donations, baby diapers, and formula) from the event would then be donated to the Heartbeat of Greater Flint.

When it came to the day of the event, the turn out was a lot better than expected and the people that came really brought a great and loving energy with them. I collected the donations and made sure people signed in and were welcomed. Since doing 108 Sun Salutations was much more of a task than a regular flowed class, and each sun salutation had to be counted I volunteered myself. I would be the one to observe the class and keep track of everyone's progress. I found that it was easiest to focus on one person's pace in order to get the most accurate number and I used beads and a mason jar to keep count. While I thought observing would be rather simple, I actually found the experience like a meditation as I got lost in a trance of everyone's body around me and so I found it harder to focus on counting.

You are probably thinking...108 Sun Salutations?! Well for the first five we each taught one to the group then let everyone follow their breath for the remainder of the session. It sounds like a lot but to make it easier we broke them up into increments of 36. For every 36 sun salutations we set an intention to focus on to better direct everyone's energy.

3 intentions:

1st 36) Focus on a person or event from our past that's holding us back from living the life we want.

2nd 36) Focus on some aspect of our present life that's not serving us, and letting go of that person, idea, feeling, emotion, etc.

3rd 36) Focus on letting go of the grasp(or, in some cases, death grip) we have on what we believe our future is supposed to hold for us.

At the end of our last 36 Sun Salutations, I brought us all together for our last sun salutation and a cool down down on our mats. Since the event was a fundraiser for babies I thought it was appropriate to incorporate happy baby (ananda balasana) as a counterpose, as well as bridge and some spinal twists. We closed the class with words of gratitude and an OM.

Overall I had a fantastic time being in the present moment while observing, all while doing it for a good cause. I think it is often hard to find constructive ways to get involved and make a change in the community so I am glad this SEVA project allowed me to do that with such a wonderful group of people.

Namaste 🙏🏾