Surya Namaskara, also known as Sun Salutation, is a way of expressing gratitude to the Sun, the symbol of energy, power, and vitality. It is a simple yet effective way to start the day and improve your physical and mental well-being.
It consists of 12 steps with eight asanas on each leg(left and right). When you begin the Surya Namaskar, you must start with the right leg because the “surya nadi”, or the sun channel, runs along that side. One complete cycle involves both legs and has 24 steps in total. Each step involves inhaling and exhaling alternatively, which must be followed. The best time to perform this sequence is before sunrise. As a beginner, you can start with five cycles a day, eventually increasing it to 11.
Surya Namaskara offers many health benefits, making it a cornerstone of yoga practice worldwide.
- Improves body’s flexibility – The movements facilitate stretching of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the body. Moving from one pose to another promotes joint motion, reducing stiffness and increasing mobility.
- Makes the spine stronger – Through this practice, the body is trained to maintain a straight and balanced position. This prevents backaches and enhances spine health.
- Strengthens muscles – Surya Namaskara is considered a full-body workout as it engages and strengthens all the muscles in the body (arms, shoulders, chest, abdomen, back, and legs).
- Improves blood circulation and vitality – The rhythmic breathing and the coordinated muscle movements collectively enhance blood flow to vital organs and tissues and make the heart pump blood efficiently. This improves heart health and regulates blood pressure. The process further awakens energy centres (chakras), promoting vitality and mental clarity.
- Strengthens the lungs – Surya namaskar involves breathing in a specific way during each pose, giving the lung capacity a boost and allowing more intake of oxygen, which makes the body function efficiently.
- Calms the mind – Focusing on breathing cultivates mindfulness that reduces tension, anxiety, and stress. Regular practice leads to mental clarity, emotional balance, and inner peace.
- Improves digestion – The gentle compression and stretching of abdominal muscles during Surya Namaskara stimulates the digestive organs by massaging them. This leads to healthy digestion and elimination and better nutrient absorption.
- Reduces weight – Surya Namaskar burns calories, boosts metabolism, helps you shed extra kilos, and improves digestion.
- Balances hormones – The practice regulates the endocrine system by activating the thyroid and adrenal glands and promoting hormonal balance. Thus reducing symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings, and irregular menstrual cycles.
- Detoxifies the body – The practice stimulates the lymphatic system, which flushes out toxins. Additionally, sweating while doing this sequence can help expel the body’s waste, leaving you rejuvenated. The removal of toxins also makes your skin glow.
Surya Namaskara can transform your health, regardless of whether you are a beginner or have been practising the sequence for a long time. Including it in your daily routine opens the doorway to radiant health and well-being.
-Content partner Happiest Health
