We couldn’t have asked for a better day to celebrate the Summer Solstice. After a week of intense heat, the clouds arrived just in time, giving us the perfect conditions to move, breathe and enjoy the day together. It was particularly welcome because Sun Salutations are designed to generate heat within the body, so the cooler weather allowed everyone to focus on learning rather than simply coping with the temperature.

The morning Yoga Lab was dedicated to Classical Surya Namaskar. The aim wasn’t simply to practise lots of Sun Salutations, but to understand them. Once you understand why each movement follows the next, remembering the sequence becomes much easier.

We spent time exploring the parts that often cause the most confusion: the transitions. These are where many people lose the flow of the sequence, so we slowed everything down, looked at each movement in detail and practised how to move smoothly from one posture to the next.

We also explored how to remember the twelve positions, before linking the whole sequence with the breath. It was lovely to see those moments when everything clicked. Suddenly the sequence became easier to remember and people could relax into the practice instead of wondering what came next. By the end of the workshop, everyone was moving with greater confidence, understanding not only how to practise Sun Salutations, but why the sequence works so beautifully.

After creating plenty of internal warmth, it was time to gather around the table.

The Solstice Lunch

Our Rooted to Glow Summer Solstice lunch, prepared under the Cook From Scratch banner, celebrated the abundance of early summer and the Ayurvedic principles of eating with the seasons. Every dish and every drink was homemade using seasonal ingredients, many of them home-grown or foraged locally, creating flavours that simply aren’t found in supermarket aisles.

The menu included refreshing herbal drinks infused with elderflower, hawthorn, goji berries, lemon balm and rose, alongside colourful dishes featuring sprouted chickpeas, fresh herbs, edible flowers, seasonal vegetables and fragrant homemade croquettes. Each ingredient had been carefully chosen not only because it was delicious, but because it naturally supports the body during the summer months by cooling, hydrating and nourishing.

One of my favourite parts of these seasonal lunches is introducing people to ingredients they may never have tasted before. It’s always a joy to watch someone discover a new flavour or hear the conversations that naturally unfold around the table. Food has an incredible way of bringing people together, and when it’s prepared with intention and shared in good company, it becomes part of the practice too.

What I loved most about the day was the balance. We began by creating heat through the practice of Surya Namaskar and then restored that balance with cooling, seasonal food inspired by Ayurveda. Movement and nourishment complemented one another beautifully, reminding us that yoga doesn’t finish when we roll up our mats. The way we move, breathe, cook and eat are all part of the same journey towards wellbeing.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined me. Your curiosity, openness and willingness to try something new made the day incredibly special. These events are never just about yoga or food; they’re about creating a space where we can learn, connect and celebrate the changing seasons together.

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