Summer Yoga Balancing Flow

Save It. Practice It. Teach It.

This Summer Yoga Balancing Flow is designed to boost your energy while working towards greater balance.  We move through a series of gentle yoga postures to help cultivate a greater sense of inner balance while cultivating joy.  We hope you will enjoy practicing or teaching this summer yoga balancing flow as we prepare for Summer Solstice.  Please save it, practice it and teach it ~ it's all yours.  Let's take a look at this Summer Yoga Balancing Flow.

Postures in Seated Summer Yoga Sequence:

Easy Pose

Cat/Cow Pose

Down Dog Pose

Forward Fold Pose

Mountain Pose

Warrior I Pose

Warrior II Pose

Reverse Warrior Pose

Extended Side Angle Pose

Plank Pose

Locust Pose

Child's Pose

Down Dog Pose

Pigeon Pose

Humming Bee Breath

Jnana Mudra

Reclined Bound Angle Pose

Savasana

Creating Inner Balance Through Yoga

Creating inner balance through yoga involves integrating physical postures, breathwork, mindfulness, and meditation to cultivate harmony and alignment within the body, mind, and spirit. Here are some key principles and practices to help you create inner balance through yoga:

Mindful Movement:

Begin by connecting with your body through mindful movement. Practice yoga postures (asanas) mindfully, paying attention to sensations, alignment, and breath. Move with awareness, focusing on the present moment and cultivating a sense of inner peace and grounding.

Breath Awareness:

Incorporate conscious breathing (pranayama) into your yoga practice to regulate the breath and calm the mind. Practice deep, diaphragmatic breathing to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing stress. Use the breath as a tool to anchor your awareness in the present moment and create a sense of inner stillness.

Balance Poses:

Explore yoga poses that challenge your balance, such as Tree Pose (Vrksasana) or Eagle Pose (Garudasana). Balancing poses require focus, concentration, and steady breath, helping to center the mind and cultivate mental clarity and stability. Embrace the wobbling and imperfection as opportunities to find balance within yourself.

Yoga Nidra:

Practice Yoga Nidra, also known as yogic sleep, to induce deep relaxation and restore inner balance. Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation technique that systematically relaxes the body and mind, allowing you to access deeper states of consciousness and inner peace. Set aside time for regular Yoga Nidra practice to promote healing, rejuvenation, and self-discovery.

Mindfulness Meditation:

Cultivate mindfulness through seated meditation practice, observing the fluctuations of the mind with nonjudgmental awareness. Set aside dedicated time each day to sit in meditation, focusing on the breath, sensations, or a chosen point of focus. As you cultivate mindfulness, you'll develop greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, and inner equilibrium.

Seated Poses:

Incorporate seated yoga poses, such as Easy Pose (Sukhasana) or Lotus Pose (Padmasana), into your practice to ground and center your energy. Seated poses provide a stable foundation for meditation and reflection, allowing you to turn inward and connect with your inner essence. Use seated poses as opportunities to cultivate stillness, introspection, and inner peace.

Intention Setting:

Before beginning your yoga practice, take a moment to set an intention or Sankalpa—a heartfelt desire or affirmation that aligns with your innermost values and aspirations. Infuse your practice with intention, dedicating your time on the mat to nurturing inner balance, harmony, and well-being.

Self-Compassion and Acceptance:

Practice self-compassion and acceptance as you journey through your yoga practice. Embrace yourself with kindness and nonjudgmental awareness, honoring your strengths and vulnerabilities alike. Cultivate a sense of inner balance by acknowledging and accepting the full spectrum of your human experience.

By integrating these principles and practices into your yoga routine, you can create a deeper sense of inner balance, harmony, and well-being, both on and off the mat. Allow your yoga practice to be a sacred space for self-discovery, transformation, and inner peace.

What Yoga Feels Best In The Summer?

In the summer, when the weather is warmer and energy levels tend to be higher, yoga practices that emphasize movement, vitality, and connection with nature tend to feel particularly invigorating and refreshing. We tried to capture that in our Summer Yoga Balancing Flow.  Here are some movement principles and styles of yoga that coincide with the energy of the summer season:

1. Dynamic Flow: Dynamic flow yoga styles, such as Vinyasa or Power Yoga, are characterized by fluid movement, continuous transitions between poses, and synchronized breath. These practices mirror the dynamic and vibrant energy of summer, inviting practitioners to move with grace, strength, and fluidity. Dynamic flow yoga can help build heat, increase circulation, and cultivate a sense of vitality and aliveness in the body and mind.

2. Sun Salutations: Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) are a series of dynamic yoga poses that flow together in a sequence, often performed in the morning to greet the rising sun. As the name suggests, Sun Salutations are particularly well-suited for the summer season, as they honor the solar energy and warmth of the sun. Practicing Sun Salutations can help awaken the body, increase heat and energy, and cultivate a sense of vitality and connection to nature.

3. Outdoor Yoga: Taking your yoga practice outdoors and connecting with nature is especially enjoyable during the summer months. Outdoor yoga practices allow you to breathe fresh air, feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, and ground yourself in the beauty of the natural world. Whether it's practicing yoga in a park, on the beach, or in your backyard, outdoor yoga invites you to embrace the elements and find joy and inspiration in the present moment.  This Summer Yoga Balancing Flow works great outdoors!

4. Energetic Sequencing: In the summer, when energy levels are high, yoga practices that incorporate energetic sequencing can feel particularly invigorating. These sequences often include dynamic movements, strong poses, and flowing transitions designed to build heat, increase circulation, and awaken vitality in the body and mind. Energetic sequencing can help you tap into your inner strength, courage, and creativity, empowering you to embrace the abundance and possibilities of the summer season.

5. Breathwork for Energy: Incorporating energizing breathwork techniques into your yoga practice can help amplify the energizing effects of summer. Practices such as Breath of Fire (Bhastrika), Kapalabhati (Skull Shining Breath), or Ujjayi Pranayama (Victorious Breath) can help increase heat, stimulate the nervous system, and invigorate the body and mind, making them particularly beneficial during the summer months when energy levels are naturally high.

6. Balancing Poses: Balancing poses, such as Tree Pose (Vrksasana), Warrior III (Virabhadrasana III), or Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana), can help you cultivate stability, focus, and inner equilibrium—qualities that are especially valuable during the dynamic and active energy of summer. Balancing poses challenge you to find balance both physically and mentally, encouraging you to stay grounded and centered amidst the fluctuations of life.  You can try incorporating some of these postures into our Summer Yoga Balancing Flow.

Overall, yoga practices that emphasize movement, vitality, and connection with nature are particularly well-suited for the summer season, helping you harness the energy of the sun, awaken your inner vitality, and embrace the abundance and possibilities of the season. Whether you're flowing through dynamic sequences, practicing Sun Salutations, or taking your yoga practice outdoors, let the spirit of summer inspire and uplift you as you move and breathe with joy and gratitude.

If you like this Summer Yoga Balancing Flow, please join us in our yoga teacher training online or pranayama teacher training to learn more about teaching yoga and breathwork.

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Seated Summer Yoga Sequence