06/16/2025
On Saturday, June 21, Whitetop Yoga will celebrate International Day of Yoga and Summer Solstice with a special, donation-based “108” practice from 8:30-10:30ish a.m.
Kelly Blevins, Breece Bryan, Laura Grantham, Allison Linder, Robyn Raines, & Lauren Stauffer will be leading an empowering and accessible 108 sun salutations followed by a 108 om meditation.
Sounds intimidating? Not at all what we’re going for : ) We will build variations on sun salutes—beginning seated and working our way up to standing, then working our way back down to seated again. We promise to keep it light, inspiring, and fun! And remember… we call it practice because we all keep trying!
Why 108?
108 is a sacred number that shows up in many world religions, mathematics, and science. 108 connects the sun, moon, and earth. 108 sun salutes—consistent movement connected with the breath—is a way to embrace the positive energy and work through the challenges that may arise in the coming season. Sun salutations (surya namaskar in Sanskrit) help move stuck, stagnant energy through the body and release through the exhales of your breath.
Closing our practice, we will use mala beads (which include 108 beads on a string) to create a chorus of oms which will cool down, calm down, and center each of us in a beautiful, vocal meditation. Please bring mala beads (and extras to share if you’re able/willing) or plan to purchase your own at the studio.
We will be accepting donations—day of and throughout the month—in honor of International Day of Yoga to support our dear friend, Rajesh Joshi, and his work in Jodhpur, India. Robyn first met Rajesh in 2017, through her master’s degree program with Virginia Tech in Jodhpur. Rajesh was one of the environmental leaders that VT faculty identified for students to study. Rajesh has a deep yoga practice that is very genuinely his way of life. Robyn has maintained friendship and partnership with him through Whitetop Yoga for many years now. Thank you for considering a generous donation in honor of International Day of Yoga supporting an individual and his work in India, where yoga originated.
Hope to see you there ❤️