Find Your Summer Glow
An uplifting yoga sequence to energise your body and soul.
By Sarah Highfield
As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, summer invites us to move with a sense of freedom and lightness. It is the perfect time to refresh your yoga practice with a sequence that energises your body and sparks an inner glow. Whether you are practicing on a sun-lit patio, in a breezy studio, or in the comfort of your living room, this summer sequence will help you cultivate strength, flexibility and calm.
Hold all the poses for 10 deep breaths and then repeat them on the second side.
1. High Lunge (Anjaneyasana)
Begin standing at the front of your mat and step your right foot back into a high lunge, keeping your left knee stacked above your ankle. Arms reach up, shoulders soften, and your gaze lifts. This pose is all about grounding and lifting at the same time. Feel the stretch through your hip flexors and strength building in your legs. High lunge helps with energy and confidence and it mimics the upward-reaching nature of the sun, encouraging you to stand tall and radiant.
2. Extended Side Angle (Utthita Parsvakonasana)
Start with your feet wide and lunge to the right, then place your right elbow on your right thigh (or hand to the floor), and extend your left arm overhead. This strong and spacious pose stretches the side body and legs while strengthening the core. The open chest and extended side body allow you to breathe freely, refreshing you from the inside out.
3. Revolved Head to Knee Pose (Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana)
Come to a seated position with your right leg extended and the left leg bent toward your right inner thigh. Reach your left arm overhead and fold over your extended right leg, twisting gently upward. This beautiful, introspective pose offers a deep side stretch and a calming twist, perfect for cooling down in the summer. The revolved aspect helps to detoxify while keeping the movement gentle. It is a meditative pose that invites mindfulness and a quiet connection to your breath.
4. Seated Half-Bound Lotus (Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana)
From seated, bring your right foot onto your left thigh in half lotus. Reach your right arm behind your back and clasp your right toes (or use a strap), then gently fold forward over your extended left leg. This pose combines hip opening, hamstring stretching and a calming forward fold. There is something grounding and humbling about this pose, it reminds us to slow down and soften, which is key when balancing the outward activity of summer with inward reflection.
End with a strong core booster. Sit tall, lift your legs off the ground and balance on your sit bones, arms reaching forward. Boat pose strengthens your core, improves posture and lights a little fire in your belly. This pose is a burst of brightness and strength; it is a joyful challenge that builds both physical and mental resilience — like your own little inner sun.
Seal your practice with stillness
After moving through these five yoga poses, take a few moments in a comfortable seated position or lying in savasana. Allow your breath to slow, and feel the afterglow of your practice radiating from within. This summer inspired yoga sequence is a celebration of movement, breath, and the simple joy of being in your body.
Born in Hong Kong and based in London, Sarah Highfield is a leading international yoga teacher and writer. She is the founder of Yogagise Yoga and believes there is a style of yoga for everyone. Visit her website for more information: yogagise.com or follow her on social media: @yogagise
Om Magazine
First published in November 2009, OM Yoga magazine has become the most popular yoga title in the UK. Available from all major supermarkets, independents and newsstands across the UK. Also available on all digital platforms.
