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5 Yoga Poses to Celebrate Summer Solstice

The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. It's an opportunity to appreciate and bask in sunlight and to nurture your inner glow. Yoga is a great way to tune inward and tune out the internal and external chatter. To help you focus, Carolan Hoffman, yoga instructor and founder of Hot Spot Dupont in Washington, D.C., offers five yoga poses you can do throughout the summer, to stay uplifted and inspired.



1. Triangle Pose - Grounding yet energizing. Stimulates and invigorates the spine. 
How: Stand with legs open and arms stretched out. Wrists in line with ankles. Bend knee and lower hips. Place elbow at the inside of knee and both arms stretched apart.  Heart is open, torso stays lifted. Breath calmly through the nose. Hold the pose for 20 seconds. Repeat on left side.

2. Chair Pose - Exhilarating and stabilizing. Promotes a harmonious inner glow.
How: Stand with feet hip width distance and arms stretched out in front of the body. Sit the hips down low and keep the arms stretched out for balance. Breath through the nose. Hold the pose for 20-30 seconds.

3. Standing Bow - Rejuvenates the spine. Awakens a profound sense of happiness on the inside. 
How: Stand with left leg straight and right hand grasping the inside of right ankle. With
both hips facing forward, kick the right leg back behind the body into a backbend. Breath calmly and slowly through the nose. Hold the pose for up to 1 minute.

4. Seated Twist -  Invigorates the central nervous system and builds inner momentum. 
How: Sit with legs crossed. Bring right hand behind your back, placing it on the floor next to the spine. Grab the right knee with your left hand. Lengthen the spine up and twist the spine looking over the right shoulder. Breath through the nose. Hold pose for up to 1 minute. Repeat on left side.

5. Sunshine Breaths -  Boosts energy and enlivens the nervous system.
How: Take a deep breath in through the nose and exhale fully through the mouth. Inhale through the nose for a count of 5, hold breath for a count of 5, exhale through the nose for a count of 5 and hold breath for a count of 5. Repeat up to 10 times.
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