A common celebration in the yoga world for the summer solstice is to practice 108 sun salutations. If that sounds hard and like a lot, you are right. It is. For a full practice of 108 salutations in one session, it takes about two hours (including some warm-up and a very important and well earned savasana). 

I have completed the practice at a studio once, and it was a major challenge. The studio was heated, and I was sore and dehydrated for a few days after. You can read about my experience on my blog post about it, here. 

What I learned was that while I am glad that I completed and experienced that once as a yoga instructor, I also knew that I wanted to create a way for this celebration and this practice to be more accessible. The practice is a wonderful way to welcome summer, but it’s not a safe or reasonable practice for everyone to suddenly go do 108 in a row over a 90-120-minute session. 

Plus, if you know me, you know that my values are tenacity and grace in approaching yoga and with safety at the forefront. Yoga is to be nourishing. 

That’s where my 9 x 12 = 108 Challenge came about. It’s flexible and accessible and includes variations on the traditional sun salutations cues that allow everyone to complete 108 sun salutations for themselves, on their own terms. 

9 Days
12 Sun Salutations each day
Finishing on the Summer Solstice, at 108 total salutations

Each day, I both email and post a video in a private Facebook group at 5:30 am. The video includes 12 sun salutations for you to complete how and when you want. 

If you DO want the challenge of 108 sun salutations and want that experience, I also have you covered. In the email the morning of the summer solstice it will include the FULL practice video for anyone who wants. It is included in the challenge. 

The Facebook group is there to encourage and motivate and connect challenge participants. You are not alone in completing the challenge, and it can be fun to share experiences and ideas with each other: 
*Today, I decided to practice outside. 
*My kids joined me today. 
*I usually practice in the morning but used it as a lunch break today. 
*I caught up today and did 24, yesterday’s video and today’s.

I provide videos and instruction on chair salutations, wall salutations, and much more so that anyone at any level can participate. Plus, each day’s video is around 10 minutes, so the scheduling is easier and is a great way to kickstart your routine for summer.

This practice of 12 salutations is a great, efficient workout!!!!

Maybe your self-care practice is stagnant and needs a boost or restart. 
Maybe your mental bandwidth is maxed out and needs a challenge to help you clear out some space. 
Maybe you have always wanted to complete the 108 salutation challenge but never felt like it was accessible. 

I invite you to take on this challenge with the TG Framework: Tenacity and Grace. Tenacity to commit and meet yourself on the mat for 9 consecutive days. Grace to allow yourself to complete those salutations how they feel best to you. 

This year, 2022, the challenge starts on June 13 and finishes on the summer solstice, June 21. 
Learn more about the challenge and sign up by visiting this link.