The 108: Ancient Bad Dog Rebel Wisdom

Hey there, fellow Bad Dog Rebels! Let's talk about one of the most epic ways to celebrate our bodies and throw shade at diet culture – the practice of 108 sun salutations during equinoxes and solstices. This weight-inclusive tradition isn't just about moving through poses; it's about claiming your space in the cosmic dance of the universe!

The number 108 holds deep spiritual significance across many traditions. It represents the wholeness of existence: the one stands for higher truth, zero symbolizes emptiness and humility, and eight represents infinity and endless possibilities. When we undertake 108 sun salutations, we're not counting repetitions to burn calories– hard pass on that nonsense! We're participating in an ancient ritual that connects us to something far greater than hegemonic beauty standards.

Each sun salutation is a complete journey, flowing through a series of specific poses that engage every major muscle group and energy center in your body. And here's where the magic happens, Bad Dog Rebels: as you move through this sequence 108 times, something remarkable shifts. You stop thinking about how your body looks and start experiencing how it feels. Your focus moves from appearance to breath, from judgment to presence, from external validation to internal strength.

This practice is particularly powerful as an antidote to diet culture because it emphasizes what your body can do rather than how it should look. The Bad Dog Rebel weight-inclusive approach means every body – yes, EVERY body – has a place on the mat. During these sacred solar junctions – when day equals night, or when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point – we're reminded that cycles and changes are natural, beautiful, and necessary. Just as the Earth moves through seasons without judgment, our bodies too deserve to exist and move through space and time unimpeded by criticism.

The physical intensity of 108 sun salutations helps us recognize our body's incredible capacity for endurance and adaptation. You might start thinking "No way can I do this!" (trust me, every Bad Dog has been there), only to discover that your body knows exactly how to pace itself, how to modify movements when needed, and how to tap into previously unknown reserves of strength. This realization directly challenges diet culture's message that our bodies need to be controlled, restricted, improved, or "fixed." Our bodies are capable of rising to great challenges, right now, just as they are.

As you progress through the sequences, you'll likely sweat, breathe heavily, and feel your muscles working hard. Instead of viewing these sensations through diet culture's lens of "burning off" food or "earning" meals, this practice invites you to experience them as signs of your body's vital energy and natural power. Your sweat becomes sacred, your breath becomes prayer, your movement becomes meditation – and yes, it's okay to laugh and wobble and take breaks along the way!

Being on your mat during an equinox or solstice, flowing through these salutations, you're making a powerful statement: your body is not a problem to be solved but a miracle to be celebrated. Fellow Bad Dog Rebels, this is your invitation to experience the turning of seasons, the warmth of the sun, and the joy of movement – exactly as you are, right now. Let's get rebellious with our practice! 

Explore 108 Practices Here