MAKE THE MOST OF THE SUMMER SOLSTICE
With the Summer Solstice on the horizon, we asked with our team of experts for their top tips for making the most of and celebrating the longest the day of the year. Learn about the Summer Solstice and check out their top tips below (alongside recommendations from the Online Studio).
Summer Solstice
This year the Summer Solstice, otherwise know as the longest day of the year, falls on Tuesday 21st June. On this day, the UK will enjoy a total of 16 hours and 43 minutes of daylight, with the sun rising at 4.43am and setting at 9.22pm.
Each year there are two solstices, one in the winter and one in the summer. Don’t worry our Winter Solstice is still a long way off (Monday 21st December). The summer solstice is when the Earth’s axis is most inclined towards the sun and is directly above the Tropic of Cancer. It traditionally coincided with those working on the land having a break between planting and harvesting crops. This is why June tended to be month for weddings.
Summer Solstice Top Tips
This month we asked the team to share their top tips for making the most and celebrating the longest day of the year:
Dr Pippa, Resident GP and Skincare Specialist - Get yourself a small bottle of spray SPF you can use and top up throughout the day, but lightweight enough to carry in your bag too! I recommend wearing an SPF of 30 or above (even if it isn’t sunny). Make sure your suncream protects against UVA and UVB and has a Star Rating of 4 or above. Pippa’ go-to suncream is the Alturist Family Sunspray.
Louise Murray, Health Coach and Mindfulness Teacher - The term solstice derives from Latin, sol-sun, and sister - to make stand or stand still. From earth, it appears that the sun stand stills for a moment, before changing course. So bring some yin into the yang. If you’ve been too busy recently, take a momentary pause. Give yourself time and space to rebalance, restore energy and come back to your centre. Struggle to take time out and slow down, we recommend trying our Introduction to Yin Series with Emma (try Episode 1 HERE).
Jenny Stewart, Co-Founder and Yoga Instructor - Celebrate the sun by watching the sunrise or sunset. If you plan on getting up early to welcome in the new day, I recommend listening to my new 10 minute guided Sunrise Meditation. Greet the new day with an open heart and mind, feel compassion towards yourself and others and head into your day feeling calm, relaxed and with an appreciation for life. During the day try and maximise your time in nature, even better with a yoga mat and saluting the sun.
Emma Humfrey, Yoga Teacher - Make some time for yourself, there is pressure to be social but spend a bit of time doing what you want to do to recharge. Take time to read, nourish your body with delicious food, and enjoy being outside (we recommend trying our Mindfulness in Nature Exercise).
Kimmi Scadgell, Team Photographer - Enjoy watching the bonfire flicker and dance in the evening, listen to it cracking and fizzing, and enjoy some toasted marshmallows and a glass of wine of course!
Vicky Dickson, Yoga + Pilates Teacher - Take the pressure off and just do whatever it is you feel you want or need to do - even if that means watching Netflix with the curtains shut.
Evelyn Joyce, Fitness Instructor and Foodie - Make the most of this seasons bounty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Think fruit salads with juicy strawberries, raspberries and cherries, to light summer salads with new potatoes, broad beans and summer greens. Invite your friends over for dinner and make the most of the longest night - focus on simple sharing platters to be enjoyed over the course of the evening. Need some foodie inspiration? - click recipes on the Balanced Life Blog.
Olivia, Yoga Instructor and Marketing Lead - Feel the energy of the sun with an energising one breath, one movement flow. It can be as simple as a couple of sun salutations. Want to revisit your Sun Salutations? - Check out Olivia’s Sun Salutation Refresh Class. Want to add some heat to Sun Salutations with fun variations and challenges? - Check out Olivia’s Power Salutations.
