I did it! On Saturday September 26, 2009 for the first time in three years, I completed 108-Sun Salutations!  Woo hoo!!!!

Ok, so maybe that wasn’t a proper introduction from journalistic standpoint.  However, I am sure those of you that are familiar with the event will agree that I have the right to be extra happy.  Here is why.  First it was a very positive process for me...Notice I said process.  I am referring to the fact that I actually prepared myself, physically and mentally for a month. 

Second, the actual event was very physically demanding.  The two instructors that led the Chanhassen Life Time Fitness 108 were great in providing us an even yet challenging tempo.  Believe it or not, there were a couple of times I actually thought of creating an excuse to get out.  That’s right, for a second I came up with a family emergency that I had to run off to, until I remembered that my cell phone was in my bag outside of the studio.  Silly me!!   My mental tricks were fully evaded, and I dutifully kept myself in pace with Tiffany and Kirk.  If it wasn’t for their guidance and encouragement I would have been out the door.

How did it feel you ask?  Some where in the beginning my not so warmed up body started to take inventory of the multiple injuries I have suffered.  Once warm, I was ready to go.  It was around Sun Salutation number 18 when I hit the zone. I know it because that’s when I lost count.  It was kind of like being in a dream.  I was literally flowing without any attention to time, number, and or attention to any exhaustion.  The only time I felt tired or exhausted was when Tiffany and or Kirk would give us a break.  And it was then when my mind and body would come up with the excuses to stop. 

Thankfully, I adequately prepared myself physically for the event providing me the stamina, strength, and flexibility necessary to just fully present and experience.  Those of you that are athletes know what I mean.  When you get into the zone it is as if all time stops, you feel like you are floating.  In addition, every thing is clear, you are aware of all sights and sounds, and none of it ever feels distracting. 

When we finally bowed-out, I had a sense of joy and accomplishment.  Most interesting was the sense of bonding with the other folks that also made it through.  Bright!  That is exactly how I felt.  Almost as if I was beaming bright white light.  I felt like I could have done another round of 108-Sun Salutations.  Speaking of another round of 108, we will be celebrating the Winter Solstice in late December and I once again invite you to join me.

If you celebrated the 108 this past weekend, I am interested in hearing how you did and how felt.  Please add your comments to this blog.

So, I felt like I was beaming, glowing, a literal bright light.  I was joyful, happy, and excited for my journey and for completing the event.  I was energized and ready to do more.  So what does this mean?  How do I keep alive that spark, that light, my inner torch?   Well, long story short, let me illustrate it with a story I learned from a business/fitness coach by the name of Kate Larsen, I believe she is based out of the Minneapolis area, that should begin to provide you a response.

Apparently, an ancient Greek racing contest involved runners that actually ran with a lit torch.  You probably already assumed that the winner is the first person to cross the finish line, but in actuality the winner was the first runner to get across the finish line with their torch still lit.  Still lit!

You can imagine, a runner had to be that much more present to the conditions and environment in order to keep that flame alive.  They slowed down if the flame started to die, they took cover if there were rain or high winds, and they took a break if they were getting tired or risk dropping the torch.  Each time re-establishing a new pace and plan to arrive at the finish line with their torch still lit.

Expectations set by society and technology has set a pace where life moves much faster than what the mind, body, and heart can manage.  These expectations cause us to sprint to the finish line in order to “make a difference” resulting in burn out, broken relationships, and unfulfilled desires.  Our torches fully out.

What are lessons that we can gather from the Yoga?  Well that would require lots of extra writing therefore potentially boring you.  So here is an acronym that sums up the common lessons of Yoga and is a great practice to keep your inner spark, your torch, alive.  The acronym is known as the "BASICS" and stands for breath, awareness, silence, intention, compassion, and slowing down (this is from an old work buddy and mindbody guru and author Jonathan Ellerby).

Breath

Breath work is the core of mind body practices and has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and optimize creativity and thought.  Any time you are feeling frustrated, ready to ‘pop-a-fuse’, stop and take a few deep breaths.

Awareness

Awareness without judgment or control is the key to mastering our choices and reactions.   Take time to become more aware; observing and witnessing are two other words for the same goal.  It’s as simple as taking a “step back” from our reaction mode so that we can enter a mode of skillful and conscious choosing.

Silence

Silence is the gateway to greater awareness. In silence we are best able to move into a mode that is about listening to our inner dialogue and emotional state.  It’s in silence where we are able to separate our reaction from what we are reacting to.

Intention

Intention is about making choices based on what we want to create more of, and not based on old stories and emotions. We clarify our highest good in the moment and are able to create greater focus, set priorities, and let go of confusion or thoughts and attitudes that do not support us.

Compassion

Compassion is the common attitude cultivated in all mindful and spiritual practices providing the feeling of being fulfilled and causes us to make to healthful choices.  This is attitude of compassion is accompanies with non-attachment to things such as judgment, perfection, control, impatience, or blame.  Compassion within leads to acts of compassion outside of us.  This provides us healthier attitudes and choices.  Think about this one, an act of health done out of judgment and poor self worth, such as losing weight, doesn’t create the same results as doing it with an attitude of forgiveness, celebration of our body, and respecting the self.

Slow Down

Slowing down is the most critical to improving health.  As mentioned earlier, expectations set by society and technology has set a pace where life moves much faster than what we can manage.  This is probably the most critical variable in improving health by reducing stress, burnout, and unbalanced lives.   The key to this variable is pace, meaning how much we try to fit into a limited space in time.  Its not really how much or any one type of activity, but the pace at which we expect ourselves to do it is what ends up being so debilitating.

These six basic principles can provide you the tools to create more meaningful, healthful, and balanced interactions to maintain your inner spark, your torch fully alive. 

Thank you all for following me these past few weeks in preparation for the Fall Equinox 108-Sun Salutation event.  I don’t know if my blogs will continue to appear as features on the Yoga & Pilates web page.  If not, you can continue to read my blog “To Yoga or not to Yoga” at mylt.com.

In the last edition, I promised to give some perspective on the 108-Sun Salutations.  Just in case you are tuning in for the first time, on Saturday, September 26, 2009 Life Time Fitness is hosting a 108-Sun Salutations event at a club near you. 

More than perspective on the event, I want you to have a better idea of the concept, the practice, and its metaphorical application.  In addition, I will provide you facts that you may or may not find interesting. 

Speaking of practice, I have to admit to you that I had a breakdown in my Sun Salutation practice yesterday, meaning Wednesday.  Yes, I got up before dawn and I just couldn’t get my mind and body to agree with each other.  I actually ended up switching on my computer and doing work instead!  So much for my a.m. energizer.  I will have to make up the 18 Sun Salutations by doing 9 on Saturday and Sunday as part of my personal practice.  Of course, I’ll have my Saturday yoga class and that should realign me.  Onward and upward, right?

What are Sun Salutations?

If you recall, the Sun Salutation is a simple and flowing routine of calisthenics that is often cited as comprising the whole of Yoga.  Meaning that at minimum, the nine linked poses provide you the asana, or poses, to have a yoga practice.  This routine consists of nine basic poses that are linked providing you general strength, flexibility, and even a minor cardiovascular training effect.   What is great about the Sun Salutation is that you really don’t need much room; you could actually do them in your office or cube.  Beside the more common fitness benefits, the Sun Salutations are energetically flowing, meditative, and in the end just plain makes you feel good!

The Origins

This is a bit tough as the traditions of Yoga go back approximately 5,000 years.    Historically, the Sun Salutation routine was practiced by specific group in ancient India to honor and pay respects to nature and the universe.   Apparently they had to do Sun Salutations every morning as part of their discipline.   Some sources report that they did 12 Sun Salutation equating to one per zodiac sign and others claim that it was 108-Sun Salutations every morning.  Over time, the physical practice of the Sun Salutations, along with meditation and breathing techniques became a tool in the quest for spiritual enlightenment.

Metaphorically Speaking

Metaphorically, the movements in the Sun Salutation symbolize surrendering, or letting go, both physically and or emotionally as you aim for non-attachment.  Non-attachment is a concept made well known in the west by the ancient Greek philosophical school known as the Stoics and from east from the Buddhists.  Long story short, it is the idea that we “suffer” or experience fear about something that hasn’t happened yet, or disappointed about not having something you want.  Basically, what in the end is making you unhappy is the belief that you need them in order to be happy.  This is an example of attachment.  Non-attachment is a process of becoming aware of the attachment, look for lessons, and learn from them.  If you want more information on the concept there are plenty of books out there on the topic and the best ones do come from western Buddhist that help make sense of it. 

In addition, the sequence of exercises perfectly balances flexion and extension of the spine with an almost perfect balance of inhalations and exhalations creating balance between the mind, body, and spirit. The 108, for short, is normally completed in celebration of the change of seasons or more specifically solstices and equinoxes.  In September we celebrate the Autumnal Equinox which is one of the two times when there is balance and harmony due to the days and nights having equal length.  Across the world, this is a time of final harvest where you begin to store and prepare for the winter months ahead.  A great function of the 108-Sun Salutation is that of a milestone, where you prepare, detoxify, strengthen your mind, body, and spirit in anticipation of the cold and darker months ahead.  Preparing for this event is a great way to “harvest” healthy habits such as balanced nutrition, fitness routines, and a purge of “attachments”.  Your next opportunity is Winter Solstice in December.  The Winter Solstice is the time of the longest night and the shortest day.  It is the pivot or turning point because from then on, slowly and surely, nights grow shorter and days grow longer.  In this case, it is a time to look inward, appreciate yourself, and find your inner light. 

Oh my, philosophy via a blog is not really easy…if you are interested in discussing, it is always better over wine or with a refreshment that best suits you.

Interesting Facts of the Significant and Multi-cultural Number of 108

108 is the number of Upanishads comprising Indian philosophical texts knows as Vedas

108 is the Chinese number representing man
108 is the number of names for Shiva in Hindu philosophy
108 is the number of beads on a Catholic rosary

108 is the number of beads on a Tibetan "mala", a type of “rosary”

108 is the number of names for Buddha
108 is twice the number "54", which is the number of sounds in Sanskrit
108 is six times the number "18" which is a Jewish good luck number
108 is twelve times the number 9, which is the number of vinyasas in a Sun Salutation and eighteen times the number 6, which is the number of days per week that yoga is traditionally practiced
108 is the number of stitches on a baseball!
108 is 27 times 4, that is 27 constellations in the moon's monthly circuit multiplied by four of the four cardinal directions.

The mystery of these numbers comes from early Indian astronomy. The Indians took this to be the distance between the earth and the sun in sun-diameter units, and the distance between the earth and the moon in moon-diameter units. So, the distance between earth and sun = 108 times sun-diameter, the distance between earth and moon = 108 times moon-diameter, and diameter of the sun = 108 times the earth diameter. 

I know what you are saying, “really?” If you ask our best friend google you will find that I am not off-my-rocker.

Last week I left you with a quote, setting up this week’s blog post (and a chance to guess the author, although I had no takers).  The author was Bruce Lee!  Yes, although many of you knew him as a pioneering martial arts movie star, he was also a very deep philopher.  In that quote, he was referring to the attribute of being flexible, balanced, and non-attached so that you could quickly adapt and prevail.  Go ahead check it out the past blog.  It may just begin to click for you.

Before that, look out for my fourth and final before the 108-Sun Salutations next week.  I will bring it all together with a final report on my preparation for the event and a story of an event in the ancient Greek Olympics that talks about your inner spark, your torch, and how to keep it alive through breath, awareness, silence, intention, compassion, and slowing down.

Yes, I mean doing the Sun Salutations 108 times!  Every time I mention it I get the same reaction, eyes are widened while stuttering out "108! No way!" 

Yes, it is the repetition of the Sun Salutation series 108 times with a similar feel to that of participating in a marathon.  Completing the event can take between 1.5 to 2.5 hours.  It challenges your overall strength, stamina, and your mind.

And guess what?   You have an opportunity to join other Life Time Fitness members on Saturday September 26, at select clubs, in completing 108 Sun Salutations.

Let me tell you a bit more about this exciting event.  This is equivalent to a marathon in the Yoga world.  Although open to all, you still have to at minimum know the Sun Salutation series. Although you will hear me refer to it as the marathon of Yoga, it is an enjoyable physical and mental fitness routine that will challenge your strength and endurance while providing you a transformative meditation in motion. 

The 108 Sun Salutations event is generally hosted in celebration of the Equinoxes and Solstices that mark the cyclic changes of the seasons.  The September event will be hosted around the Fall Equinox.

The 108 has become a semi-annual challenge assisting me in staying true and honest to a yoga practice and to my fitness routine.  The best part about it is that it is not a competition or set up to have winners or losers.  It is set up as a physical event that will challenge your will power, your ability to focus, to concentrate, to quiet the "monkey mind," and to remain calm and centered.  Of course, you have to prepare for it.  First, you have to at minimum learn the two Sun Salutation series.  Second, you have to practice it and condition yourself.  Third, you have to apply foundational mindful concepts to assist you in meeting this challenge.  

The last time I participated in this event was in March after coming out of a major hamstring injury.  I set a goal to only complete half of the 108.  The results?  I completed 32 of the 54 Sun Salutations I set out to achieve.  Not bad after not having practiced Yoga for over four months.  My overall fitness level was in a pretty low state and at about repetition number 20 my arms, my legs, and core started to fail me.  The most embarrassing part was in transition into Chaturanga, or the plank pose, where my arms gave out a few times.  Each time I ended up crash landing on my chest with a major thud followed by a "humph."  The other participants literally looked back each time because they say it sounded like someone took a major fall.  After the crash landings I pretty much knew that I was finished for the day.  Lucky for me, the rules of the 108 pretty much say to do as many as you safely feel you can complete.

On September 26, I plan to achieve the full 108 Sun Salutations.  Between now and then I will be spending additional time practicing Yoga and conditioning myself.  Also, every week I will write about this fun tradition, tell you where I am in my preparation, share my training and practice routine, and tell you a bit more about yoga.

Next week, I will share my yoga practice and physical conditioning routine and invite you all to prepare along with me.  I also invite you to ask questions, to comment and share your experience in past 108 Sun Salutations, and tell us about your preparation.