Sun Salutation is said to be the complete body workout. Yoga experts say that doing 12 sets of Sun Salutation translates into doing 288 powerful yoga poses in a span of 12 to 15 minutes! Sun Salutation is another example of how good things come in small (read quick) packages.

Sun Salutation: Wholesome yoga workout for ‘busy bees’

Face a time crunch? Want to feel fit but don’t know how? Welcome to the world of Surya Namaskar. Literally translated as sun salutation, Surya Namaskar comprises a sequence of 12 yoga postures. The best part about Sun Salutation is that it works well for those ‘super busy’ people who often complain about not being able to do yoga because of a time crunch. Doing at least 12 sets of Sun Salutation, preferably at sunrise, at a fast pace provide a good cardiovascular workout. If done at a slow pace, these postures help tone the muscles and can be relaxing and meditative. Moreover, it allows you to enjoy the stretch and feel the body getting flexible.

Though pretty much an exercise in itself, Sun Salutation forms an excellent link between warm-ups and intense yoga postures. Start your early morning yoga routine with some warm-up stretches to ease out body stiffness. You can then do a few rounds of Sun Salutation to help increase body flexibility and also prepare the body to stretch more during the intense yoga posture sequence.

Why Sun Salutation is good for you?

But that’s not all. Regular practice of Sun Salutation offers a lot of interesting benefits for every part of the body. These powerful yoga poses have a great impact on the heart, liver, intestine, stomach, chest, throat, and legs – the whole body from top to bottom. It purifies the blood and improves blood circulation throughout the body, and ensures proper functioning of the stomach, bowels, and nerve centers. Practicing Sun Salutation daily helps balance the three constitutions - Vata, Pitta and Kapha - that the body is made up of. More on benefits of Sun Salutation

Sun Salutation: Gratitude with Yoga

Remember those school lessons on how the sun makes life possible on this planet? As a kid, we all learnt about the indispensable role this glowing, yellow ball plays in our lives – casting away darkness, breathing life into the creation. Now, it’s our turn to say ‘thank you’ to our closest star. Surya Namaskar gives us this opportunity. Sun Salutation is a great way to exercise the whole body while feeling grateful to our revered life force, the Sun.

Eager to try out Sun Salutation? Follow these simple steps on how to do Sun Salutation. All you need to do is get onto the yoga mat, flow gracefully from one yoga pose into another, keep smiling and enjoy the stretches. Add a dollop of gratefulness to the Sun to make your Sun Salutation practice more sacred and rewarding. You are now treading your way to a disease-free body and a relaxed mind.

Also you might like to visit how to train yourself for 108 Sun Salutations in one session

Find a Sri Sri Yoga Course near you to learn Sun Salutation correctly from a Sri Sri Yoga teacher. Send your questions and queries to info@artoflivingyoga.in. We look forward to helping you with your yoga practice.

Yoga practice helps develop the body and mind bringing a lot of health benefits yet is not a substitute for medicine. It is important to learn and practice yoga postures under the supervision of a trained Sri Sri Yoga teacher. In case of any medical condition, practice yoga postures after consulting a doctor and a Sri Sri Yoga teacher. Find an Sri Sri Yoga course at an Art of Living Center near you. Do you need information on courses or share feedback? Write to us at info@artoflivingyoga.in.