Ah July, season of heat and humidity in Minnesota. July always brings a feeling of enduring and getting by versus thriving and growing to me, for some reason. I blame my Kapha heavy constitution. I want to conserve energy amongst the fields and join the waiting for the harvest. While June made use of the solstice energy, July is a time of energy conservation. The yoga class sequence for this month, in my mind, echoes the toiling of Sisyphus.
In short, Sisyphus was sentenced to push a stone up a hill for eternity, with it rolling down the opposite side once he reaches the top. It’s a Greek myth that’s passed into the zeitgeist via commercials and $200 Jeopardy! questions. But while that might sound like a metaphor for misery, I subscribe to Camus’ take on Sisyphus –
“One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”
Albert Camus
– which is my take on July. Yoga isn’t always celebration and sunlight. Sometimes it’s a bit more work. But the work is part of the process, and it’s a way to tap into conserved energy without draining the reservoir.
The Sisyphus Yoga Class Sequence
This yoga class sequence, or sun b series, is full of opportunities for students to root down, finding stability through sensation and tuning inward to relax and release.
Sun B series
Right side (left side is same, but replace right with left)
- Chair, with airplane arms
- Drinking bird, back to chair
- Forward fold, halfway lift
- Chaturanga
- Right leg high into low lunge
- Twist, rising into high lunge with open arm twist
- Reverse warrior
- Ext side angle
- Reverse triangle
- Triangle pose
- Modified pyramid, squaring hips forward and keeping heels planted
- Into revolved triangle, reaching left arm toward the floor and stacking shoulders to the right and, when feeling stable, lift right arm to the ceiling
- Release into runners lunge, walking right foot out to the edge of the mat and relaxing elbows and back leg down onto the mat (option for hurdlers)
- Step back into high plank
- Side plank
- Chaturanga
Reverse triangle is a loaded pose for me, and I find for others as well. The combination of balancing, twisting and lifting simultaneously is a big cognitive load. I love the challenge of it, though, and the different steps to it so anyone can find their own place and shape.
July Yoga Playlist (from Spotify)
July playlist is a *big vibe* as the kids say, and it’s intentionally positive and a little higher energy to play off the intensity of the sequence. And it’s a great playlist for me to tune into while working, too!
As always, I would love to get your feedback and comments on how this feels to you. What would you change? What does July feel like to you?
Minnesconsin Yoga 