A time for light, growth, and inner strength
The summer solstice – the longest day of the year – is more than just an astronomical event. It’s a powerful symbol of light, expansion, and personal empowerment, celebrated in many cultures with sacred rituals and spiritual practices.
For those of us who practice yoga and conscious living, this is a unique opportunity to connect with the energy of the sun, ground ourselves in the body, and calm the mind.
As sunlight floods the natural world, the solstice gently invites us to take a sacred pause. To step into mindful movement, embrace inner stillness, and realign with our intentions. It’s the perfect moment to set new goals, engage in a solstice ritual, and create space for new energy to enter our lives.
In this blog, I’ll show you how to create your own solstice yoga experience—at home, in nature, or anywhere you feel at peace. Discover how simple practices and yoga props can support your body, enhance your alignment, and bring more stability and grounding into your summer ritual.
The Deeper Meaning of the Summer Solstice
The summer solstice, which typically occurs on June 20th or 21st, marks the moment when the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky. It is the longest day and shortest night of the year, symbolizing the peak of light, warmth, and solar energy.
In yogic philosophy, this day carries deep symbolism—connected with the element of fire, the power of transformation, and the clarity of purpose.
Across many spiritual traditions, the summer solstice is seen as a sacred time to consciously turn toward the light—both externally and within.
A Time for Reflection:
- What have I created or manifested so far this year?
- Where do I wish to direct my energy moving forward?
- What no longer serves me—and am I ready to let it go?
For those who practice yoga or meditation, the solstice is a powerful opportunity to deepen your practice, reconnect with your inner fire, and renew your sense of direction.
Rather than just a celebration of nature, the summer solstice can become a spiritual anchor—a moment to realign with your truth, set intentions, and cultivate balance and renewal through rituals and mindful movement.
Key Benefits of Yoga on the Summer Solstice
- Helps you center yourself and clarify your intentions
- Increases both physical and energetic flow
- Deepens your connection with nature
- Restores harmony between body and mind
The longest day of the year is not an invitation to do more—it’s a call to slow down consciously. With just a few simple practices, you can create your own personal solstice ritual that supports your journey—through the body, the breath, and the soul.
Morning Ritual for the Summer Solstice
(and for every summer morning)
Morning rituals are especially powerful during the solstice season. They connect you to your body, the rhythm of the day, and your inner intention. This isn’t just a one-day practice—it can become your daily summer ritual for vitality, clarity, and inner calm.
Walking on Morning Dew – Grounding & Renewal
A natural practice many remember from childhood, walking barefoot on dew-covered grass is one of the simplest yet most powerful grounding rituals.
This direct connection with the Earth calms the nervous system, helps rebalance your energy, and even supports the immune system. In the early hours, the Earth radiates a deep sense of vital energy—take a moment to receive it.
Try a few minutes of earthing each morning to reconnect with nature and yourself.
Neti Pot – Nasal Cleansing for Clear Breath
The Neti pot is a traditional yogic tool used for nasal cleansing with warm saline water. Known as Jala Neti, this ancient practice removes mucus, allergens, and toxins from the nasal passages, allowing for deeper breathing and more effective pranayama.
This simple ritual is especially helpful in the summer months, when the air is often filled with pollen, dust, or humidity. Clear breath = clear mind.
Use a Neti pot in the morning for a fresh, open respiratory system and enhanced focus throughout your day.
Explore the Neti Pot offer here.
Ho’oponopono – Calming the Mind and Opening the Heart
Complete your morning ritual with a Ho’oponopono meditation—a simple yet profoundly effective Hawaiian technique for clearing the mind, emotions, and energetic blockages.
At its heart are four healing phrases, spoken gently and with intention:
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.”
This mantra helps to release resentments, emotional heaviness, and mental clutter. It’s a beautiful way to begin your day—or to end your yoga or breathwork practice—especially during the summer solstice, when we seek to keep our inner light pure and strong.
The Origins of Ho’oponopono
Ho’oponopono is a traditional Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and cleansing, rooted in ancient Polynesian wisdom. The word roughly translates to "to make things right" or "to bring back into balance."
Traditionally, it was practiced communally to resolve conflicts and restore harmony within families or communities.
In modern times, the practice was adapted for individual self-healing by Hawaiian spiritual teacher Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, who introduced it as a method for cleansing memories, emotional imprints, and energy patterns—starting from within.
Add Auriculotherapy to Your Daily Ritual – Gentle Ear Massage for Balance
One beautiful and often overlooked addition to your daily summer ritual is auriculotherapy, an ancient technique that works by stimulating reflex points on the ears.
What is Auriculotherapy?
Auriculotherapy, also known as ear acupressure, stems from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The outer ear is viewed as a microsystem that reflects the entire body, with specific points linked to organs, glands, and the nervous system.
By gently massaging these points, you help promote emotional balance, stress relief, improved sleep, and greater overall vitality.
How to Include It in Your Daily Practice
Take 1–3 minutes in the morning or evening to softly massage your entire ear—from the lobes to the upper ridge—using the pads of your fingers.
Focus on any areas that feel slightly tender or sensitive—these often indicate energy blockages that could benefit from your attention.
This simple, grounding ritual restores balance and brings more awareness to your body and breath.
Summer Solstice Nutrition: Nourish Your Heart with Seasonal Foods
According to both naturopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine, summer is ruled by the fire element and associated with the heart and small intestine. It's a time to support cardiovascular health, balance joy and agitation, and focus on hydrating, cooling, and light foods.
Which organ do we nourish in summer?
In TCM, the heart is the primary organ of the summer season. It governs blood circulation and consciousness (Shen), making this a perfect time to care for mental clarity, emotional harmony, and inner calm.
Naturopathy complements this by promoting foods that hydrate, cool the body, and assist in detoxification.
Summer Solstice Yoga – A Practice for Light, Balance & the Heart Chakra
Honor the Sun with Surya Namaskar
Whether you're a seasoned yogi or just starting your journey, Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) is one of the most meaningful and symbolic ways to honor the sun’s life-giving energy—especially on the summer solstice, the longest and brightest day of the year.
Across many yogic traditions, it is customary to perform 108 sun salutations on this day—a powerful physical, energetic, and spiritual practice that symbolizes gratitude, renewal, and conscious alignment with the rhythms of nature.
Why 108?
In the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of India, the number 108 holds deep spiritual significance. It represents wholeness, cosmic order, and the connection between the Earth, Sun, and Moon.
Some fascinating correlations:
- The diameter of the Sun is approximately 108 times that of the Earth.
- The distance between the Earth and the Sun is also roughly 108 times the Sun’s diameter.
For these reasons, 108 is considered a sacred number in yoga, Hinduism, and Buddhism, symbolizing the balance between the microcosm and the macrocosm.
A Powerful Moment for Conscious Practice
The summer solstice is a highly charged energetic portal, making it the perfect time to practice yoga with intention—to reconnect with the breath, the body, and your inner light.
Asanas that open the heart chakra (Anahata) help bring balance to the body and emotions, and support greater openness to life—something especially potent during this fiery time of year.
Build Your Solstice Practice (15–30 Minutes)
Enhance your morning ritual with a dedicated sequence that includes movement, breath, and stillness.
You can enhance your morning rituals with a 15–30 minute practice that includes movement, breath, and stillness. If you’re practicing outdoors – in the garden, by the water, or in the park – we recommend a lightweight, portable mat that gives you freedom of movement and comfort wherever you are. The Kurma Spezial and Manduka Eko Superlite mats are excellent choices for summer practice – each weighs around 1 kg, folds easily, and takes up very little space. The perfect companions for your sun salutations on the go!
Recommended Asanas for the Summer Solstice:
Ustrasana (Camel Pose)
A beautiful heart-opener that increases energetic flow, emotional balance, and spiritual receptivity.
Perfect for the solstice, as it symbolizes vulnerability and inner strength.
For support and safety, use a yoga block or chair—RunToYoga props provide excellent comfort and alignment support.
Recommended Asanas for the Summer Solstice
Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II)
Stability, strength, and focus. This powerful grounding posture helps anchor the intense solstice energy while enhancing your inner sense of determination and direction.
Balasana (Child’s Pose)
After an energizing sequence, take a moment to rest. Balasana gently calms the nervous system and supports integration of emotions and sensations.
Use a soft bolster under the chest or hips for extra comfort—ideal for restorative practice.
Savasana + Affirmation or Ho’oponopono
End your practice with deep relaxation in Savasana. Whether in silence or with soft music, this is your time to settle into stillness.
Repeat an affirmation or practice the Ho’oponopono mantra for emotional clarity and inner light:
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.”
This ritual closes your solstice practice with a sense of peace, renewal, and heartfelt presence.
Use a cozy RunToYoga blanket or eye pillow to support full surrender.
Evening Ritual for the Summer Solstice: Release, Cleanse & Invite Nature In
As the longest day of the year melts into a soft evening, take a moment to pause. The solstice is a celebration of light—but it also invites us to gently release what we no longer need.
Cleanse with a Solstice Bath
Begin your evening with a calming bath to cool the body, soothe the mind, and wash away the symbolic residue of the year so far. Add to your bath:
- A handful of sea salt or magnesium flakes (for detoxification)
- A scoop of dried lavender or chamomile flowers
- A few drops of essential oils: lemon balm, rose, or peppermint—for a refreshing, cooling effect
Soak for 15–20 minutes and visualize your exhale carrying away anything heavy, stagnant, or no longer serving you.
Cooling Herbal Tea for Body & Mind
While your bath cools your fire, prepare a cup of summer herbal tea. These herbs support your thermal balance, digestion, and inner peace:
- Mint – cooling and digestion-friendly
- Lemon balm (Melissa) – soothes the nervous system
- Chamomile – releases tension, supports sleep
- Mallow – calms internal heat, soothes mucous membranes
- Hibiscus – antioxidant-rich and tangy-refreshing
Sip slowly and breathe deeply. This is your invitation to stillness.
Skincare in Harmony with the Moon
Let your skin follow nature’s rhythm and enjoy an evening skincare ritual that restores balance:
- Oil-to-milk cleanser – to wash away the day gently
- Hydration with cooling botanicals – aloe vera, lavender hydrosol, or colloidal silver
- Clay mask (1× per week) – to draw out impurities and renew the skin
- Breathing exercises (pranayama) using a pranayama cushion provide comfortable support, help open the chest, and allow for deeper breathing without tension.
