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Conscious Healthy Living
July 30, 2010
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Sun Salutation
Written by Yoga Lizard   

The Sun Salutation sequence is probably one of the most well known series of poses in yoga. Even those who know little of yoga have heard of this pose! The Sanskrit name for this pose is Surya Namaskar. Surya meaning sun. Namaskar is the Hindi word for Namaste. Namaskar means salutation, greeting or praise.


There are many "steps" to this sequence, but don’t let that intimidate you, they will all eventually flow together to form a fluid and beautiful asana that can help to bring strength and flexibility to the muscles of the back and abdomen.

 

Instructions:

Begin by standing in the Mountain Pose. Bring your hands together into the prayer position. Exhale.

Inhale and raise your arms upward. Bend slowly backward, stretching your arms above your head.

As you exhale, slowly bend forward, hands touching the floor.

Inhale, prepare the spine and move the right leg back into a lunge, arching your back and raising your chin.

Exhale and bring your left foot together with your right, forming the Plank Position.

Lower your body to the floor until your knees, chest, and chin are touching the ground.

Inhale and roll the shoulders back arching the sternum toward the ceiling. Keep your arms straight.

Exhale, raise the hips to Downward Facing Dog. Stay here for three breaths.

Exhale and step your right foot back between your hands with the left foot behind you in a lunge. 

Inhale, place the left foot forward to meet the right and slowly lift the chin and extend the spine, finger tips touching the floor.

Exhale and fold forward and then inhale and raise your arms upward. Bend slowly backward, stretching your arms above your head.

Exhaling, slowly come back to the Mountain Pose.

Repeat these steps at least once on the left side. 

You may then repeat this sequence as many times as is comfortable for you to do so--up to 12 times.

Anatomical Focus

Backbend and Forward Bend.

Benefits

Coordinates one breath with each movement.

Precautions

Hip or knee joint pain.

Doshic Benefits

This sequence is especially beneficial for Kaphas to build heat.

Beginner Tips

Hold each of the poses in the sequence to focus on alignment.

Variations

There is a more advanced Surya Namaskar B variation that includes chair pose and Warrior I in the sequence. The "A" version is a good beginner warm up.

 

* Please check with your physician before beginning any exercise program

Would you like to further discuss the Sun Salutation? Please visit our forums by clicking here

 

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