The Longest Day of the Year

Wednesday, June 21, 2023 marks the longest day of the year. Happy first day of summer!

The Summer Solstice indicates the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This is how we are able to indicate the first day of summer.

It remains no coincidence that International Yoga Day falls on the Summer Solstice.

As this solstice marks the longest day of the year in which the sun theoretically comes to a stand still, what other opportunity is there to find utmost stillness in our lives? This is why International Yoga Day takes place on the first day of summer.

What do the professionals have to say?

Practicing yoga has so many benefits to both your spiritual and physical well-being.

The practice of yoga is intended “to build strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body.” This was confirmed by Natalie Nevins, certified Kundalini Yoga instructor.

Getting into the deeper facts, let’s talk about holistic yoga which consists of three central components: physical, mental and spiritual well-being. They come in the form of poses (asanas), breathwork (pranayama) and meditation.

According to Yoga Medicine, when practicing in these forms of yoga, our brains release a variety of chemicals that help us to relax, as well as lower our stress and anxiety levels. To name a few of these chemicals, there’s dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. These, along with all the others, function by calming us down and bringing us to a content state of being.

Yoga involves an abundance of focus and concentration in order to properly fulfill each posture. Further, each posture helps to increase blood circulation to the brain. This increase in blood circulation aids in increasing alertness, awareness and memory. This is beneficial both in and out of yoga.

Yoga is our buddy on and off the mat

Combining higher levels of alertness, awareness and memory with lower levels of stress and anxiety, creates a whole new sense of being for us.

These adjusted levels provide us with the tools to be better focused and concentrated in other areas of our lives. Therefore, we become more productive and disciplined people, which aids us in becoming more creative.

Find your inner yoga prowess

Yoga looks different for everyone, so it’s important to look into the different approaches and stick with a plan that works for you.

This does not at all mean that you need to be moving through yoga poses for extended periods every time you need to bring yourself back to peace. Yoga can be as simple as taking several minutes to bring your mind back to a balanced and peaceful state through breathing and meditation.

Once you figure out what combination of poses, breathing and meditation works for you, you are on your way to becoming your own yoga expert.

Yoga makes it possible for us to have control over how productive and creative we can be. Take advantage. Test the waters. Become the most productive and creative version of yourself.