Image by TheDigitel
From noon to 3 on Saturday, October 6, supporters will do 108 sun salutations and downward dogs in Marion Square to raise funds for Louie's Kids and their mission to fight childhood obesity.
A bit about the cause:
Never been to the event before? Each participant registers as a fundraiser and does just that – raises funds on our behalf! The registrant shares the event with their friends, family, coworkers and colleagues to raise money for Louie's Kids and joins us on marathon day to do 108 sun salutations to celebrate our cause and our kids. Also, the person that raises the most money wins a prize!
With this event each year, we strive to inspire community awareness and celebrate the connection that yoga brings to the vibrant, regional community – bringing us together to achieve a happy, balanced and useful life. This event also will serve to motivate an important group of children and their families.
Why 108 Sun Salutations?
The number's significance is open to interpretation. But 108 has long been considered a sacred number in yoga. Traditionally, malas, or garlands of prayer beads, come as a string of 108 beads (plus one for the "guru bead," around which the other 108 beads turn like the planets around the sun). A mala is used for counting as you repeat a mantra—much like the Catholic rosary.
Renowned mathematicians of Vedic culture viewed 108 as a number of the wholeness of existence. This number also connects the Sun, Moon, and Earth: The average distance of the Sun and the Moon to Earth is 108 times their respective diameters. Such phenomena have given rise to many examples of ritual significance.
According to yogic tradition, there are 108 pithas, or sacred sites, throughout India. And there are also 108 Upanishads and 108 marma points, or sacred places of the body.
For the event, we will have nine yoga callers join us in leading the marathon. Each caller calls 12 sun salutations as they would lead a regular class, to total 108 poses. We also have a kid marathon conducted by Kids Yoga Journey going on at the same time the adults are practicing their poses, which is adorable to see in itself.
After the event, we will have vendors, snacks and refreshments for participants and gift bags for those folks that have registered for the event, massages, hula hooping, etc. It is so fun to see 250 adult and kid yogis at one time in Marion Square! We hope you can join us!
There is also a Kids Yogathon ($5-10 suggested fee). The normal adult marathon has a $20 minimum registration fee for adults to participate.
Whole Foods Market is the title sponsor of the event.
