What’s inside?
- What is Surya Namaskar/Sun salutation?
- How to do Surya Namaskar?
- What are the benefits of Surya Namaskar?
Surya Namaskar is one of the most well known practice in yoga. There are a few different styles of doing it based on the school that you follow. Note that Surya Namaskar was not part of traditional Hatha Yoga practice but was included later on. It is a sequence of 12 poses, could be repeated several time, one after the other.
Open your yoga mat and get ready to start practicing Surya Namaskar. Make sure you are doing it on an empty stomach or have a gap of 3 hrs from your last meal.
So here we go…
- Inhale first and then Exhale, join your hands together in front of your chest (in Namaskar Mudra)
- Inhale – Stretch your arms up, arch your back, push your hip bone forward
- Exhale – Bend forward, keeping your spine straight, try touching hands on the mat, keeping hands by the side of the feet
- Inhale – Take your right leg back. Touch your right knee down on the mat (toes can either be tucked in or stretched out)
- Holding your breath (or Exhale – Inhale), take left leg back – And get into plank position
- Exhale – Bring down your knees, chest and chin on the floor
- Inhale – Roll your body forward (like in cobra pose), try keeping your pelvis grounded
- Exhale – Tuck your toes in and lift yourself up for downward dog
- Inhale – Bring your light leg forward
- Exhale – Bring your left leg forward
- Inhale – Stretch your arms up, arch your back, push your hip bone forward
- Exhale – Come back to namaskar mudra
Note that in this round, we started from right leg and brought the same leg forward. In the second round, we would use the left. Once we do it, it would be completion of 1 round.
Repeat the rounds, you could start for 3 rounds and build it up to 9/12/15 or more, as much your body allows you. We would also share with you modification that for people who have lower back or slight bit of neck pain.
As we know there are so many benefits of Surya Namaskar if practiced regularly. Following is the list of few of the benefits :
- It helps maintain overall health
- Maintains spinal health
- Stimulates and cardiovascular and nervous system
- Tones the body, strengthen the arms
- Develops flexibility
- Balances the surya nadi – any kind of imbalance (over activity or under activity is balaced)
- Improves Lung Capacity
- Can help you in weight loss
There are various schools and hence a few variations to do this practice. We recommend to do it with Mindfulness and with awareness to get the maximum benefit from the practice
Here is the video for Sun Salutations – this is from traditional Hatha Yoga
Add Comment