A Guest Post by Beth Passehl
As many of you know, I’ve owned my Pilates studio for nearly two decades, and one of the greatest blessings has been working alongside incredible instructors who bring their own gifts, wisdom, and perspectives to our community.
Today, I’m stepping aside and handing the blog over to our wonderful yoga instructor, Beth Passehl.
When Beth shared these reflections on the Summer Solstice, they immediately resonated with me. Between busy schedules, changing seasons, big life transitions, and the constant urge to do more, many of us could probably benefit from slowing down and asking ourselves one simple question:
What do I need to let go of?
I’ll let Beth take it from here.
Letting Go
By Beth Passehl
Summer Solstice marched in on June 21st, with 14.5 hours of daylight, pivoting us into summer. With so much daylight on my hands, I began to think about how the sun literally reversed course, leaving one season behind and jumping full force ahead to the next place. It looks so easy when our giant fireball makes this change every six months, and it seems like an opportunity to ask some questions, such as, “How do I go about changing seasons?” Or “How should I change my habits when it comes to how I spend long days?” Perhaps this will sound familiar:
- Do you steam ahead and end up doing too much?
- Or run and hide because it all becomes too much?
- Or alternate back and forth?
As a yoga teacher during this auspicious window of transition, I am drawn to bold poses. The energy of summer brings boldness, activity, celebrations, and abundance. It invites us to say yes to everything and to fill our calendars with plans.
But the Summer Solstice also offers a reminder: balance matters. Good thing, since keeping up this pace is certainly not sustainable, at least not for my bones. While summer’s energy encourages action, constant forward motion isn’t sustainable. Nature itself teaches us this. Even on the longest day of the year, there is still darkness waiting at the end.
Stillness gives the body permission to rest.
When attending one of my yoga classes, we will have some bold fun, but also, as in the pose in this photo, a moment of restoration. A quieter place that allows the body to rest, the brain to cool off, and the throat to literally close, which can momentarily still the usual rushing and internal chatter.
So while we embrace the fun, we also have an opportunity to create balance. It begs the questions:
What do you need to let go of?
Are there habits, expectations, worries, or even relationships that no longer serve you?
What are you carrying simply because you’ve become accustomed to carrying it?
Sometimes the most challenging practice isn’t movement at all—it’s rest.
Try this pose (above) or any resting position, and be prepared to battle the distractions. Savasana, the traditional ending to a physical practice, is considered the most difficult position in yoga. It means the body and the taskmaster brain have to shut down their voices. Inside this liminal space between light and dark, we give the mind something to do beyond the endless list of tasks or torturous thinking patterns. We renew our vital life force – our prana – with a deliberate breathing practice.
Rest. Reflect. Allow renewal to begin. Maybe things will get softer. Imagine that.
Breathwork: Box Breathing
Practice Box Breathing to calm the nervous system and quiet the mind during the longer days of this busy season.
- Begin with a complete exhalation
- Breathe in to the count of 4
- Retain your breath to a count of 4
- Exhale 1, 2, 3, 4
- Pause before the next breath to the count of 4
Om Shanti Love,
YogiBeth
Beth Passehl
Kelly’s Thoughts
Beth’s message couldn’t have come at a better time for me personally. For many of us, this year has been filled with transitions, decisions, and a lot of reflection. Her question—“What do you need to let go of?”—is one I’ve been sitting with myself.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
What is one thing you’re ready to release this summer?
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