One of the things I love about summer is Sunrise Yoga.
For a number of years now, starting in May, we meet at City Dock to do yoga.
Depending on the weather we may well go til the end of September and sometimes even into October.
Most of us take classes at different centers with the same instructor during the year but come summertime we come together one day a week to do yoga.
We live in a community where we can put our mats out on the downtown city dock at the water's edge.
Initially we have to start very early because the sun rises when normal people are still asleep.
Gradually our starting time becomes later because of what the sun is doing.
What makes Sunrise Yoga different? 1.
You are in awe at seeing the sun rise.
Every week it is different.
Some times the sky is very pink as the sun comes up as a big ball.
Other times it is competing with clouds as it struggles to peek out as the day gets lighter.
At the same time your body is warming up to the different poses and getting limber.
2.
All your senses are engaged.
You hear the city starting to wake up.
The birds begin to chirp, the church bell chimes ever so often, the garbage trucks and delivery men are doing their rounds.
Occasionally boats and ducks glide by.
The early morning runners come by yelling out: "here are the yogurts.
" Yet none of the surrounding activity interferes with our practice of yoga.
3.
You have a total body/mind experience.
To get the most out of the experience you learn to let yourself go with the flow.
All your senses are alive while at the same time you experience a peacefulness that comes from being engaged in the focused practice of yoga.