
Slowly exhale your breath out as you fold forward at the hips into a standing forward bend. Gaze slightly upward and add a slight backbend if you’d like, feeling your chest expand and your neck relax. Feel your heart opening as you reach in an upward salute to the sun. On an inhale, gradually lift your arms out to the sides and up above your head with palm touching. Keep your weight evenly distributed between your feat, ankles touching, and spine straight.įind your center and bring your palms together in Anjali Mudra (also called namaste or prayer hands). Surya namaskar begins in a variation of Mountain Pose with your hands at heart center.Īs you stand upright (ideally facing the rising sun), you begin by rooting your feet into the ground and calming your mind. Sun salutation encompasses 7 asanas performed in a cyclical order to create 12 postures in total. We speak from experience when we say it’s practically impossible to have a bad day if you start off flowing beneath the rising sun. If you really want to connect to the ancient yogic tradition, try practicing surya namaskar outdoors at sunrise. Sun salutations can connect you with a deeper spiritual core by helping you quiet your mind and sync your body movements with your breath. Of course this depends on how hard you push yourself and how many repetitions you do, but it’s a great reminder that yoga can be a sweaty workout that’s just as effective as hitting the gym.īut this flow is more than just physical exercise. Thirty minutes of surya namaskar can torch over 400 calories, putting it up there alongside running and rock climbing in terms of hardcore exercise.
#Classical sun salutation sequence full#
It’s also a full body workout! This ancient flow is also a great way to practice yoga for weight loss.



3.8 Upward Facing Dog Pose (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana).3.7 Optional: Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana).3.4 Optional: Equestrian Pose (Ashwa Sanchalanasana).3.2 Raised Arms Pose (Hasta Uttanasana).3 What are the 12 Steps of Surya Namaskar?.1 What is a Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar)?.
#Classical sun salutation sequence how to#
Here’s everything you need to know about how to do an energizing sun salutation flow, including a step by step guide to each posture. Sun salutations are needed in the modern day more than ever.Įven with only 10 minutes of practice, this time-tested sequence is sure to quiet the mind and relax the body. And that was long before stressful office jobs and endless Zoom meetings! Surya is Sanskrit for “sun” and is also the Hindu god as the sun.Īncient sun-worshipping cultures performed the Surya namaskara sequence at sunrise to prepare the mind and body for all that the day would bring. Perfect for warming sleepy muscles in the morning, suyra namaskara literally translates to “salute the sun”. Better yet, it’s simple and easy to remember so you don’t have to rely on a yoga class to get you on the mat. It can take as little as 10 minutes and offer some impressive benefits. The surya namasakar, or sun salutation, sequence is one of the oldest yoga traditions on the planet.

If you’re looking for a quick yet invigorating yoga flow, a sun salutation sequence is essentially the OG morning yoga ritual.
