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I woke up this morning to a beautiful sunshine and a much welcomed one after a grey and rainy week-end. I just “aaaaahhhhh-ed” in its light, warmth and energy as I was standing on my yoga mat getting ready for Surya Namaskar. I love this sequence. It helps me connect with myself and brings me home (virtually). I love it even more when I bath in the rays of sun during my practice. I find it so essential, uplifting, invigorating, comforting and protective, just like home.
Usually, I do six rounds and as one round consists of right and left side, I end up doing twelve in total. The first one is a bit of a struggle with my muscles and joints being stiff so early in the morning and I hear a lot of cracking in my body! Ouch! The second one is much more relaxed and flows with my breath as I move into postures and focus on energising inhalation. Usually, I close my eyes when I reach round three, shutting from the outside world and get the balance right. With the fourth round, I find myself in a natural and graceful movement, resting on the rhythm of my breath. The final two rounds are just about letting go and withdrawing myself from postures and thoughts. I simply am!
There are so many variations of Surya Namaskar and they all provide similar benefits. Only you can experience and find out which one suits you the best but this one goes like this…
1. Inhale and exhale, bring hands in the prayer position near your heart Anahata Chakra.
2. Inhale and reach your arms up, arch back and push your hips forward.
3. Exhale into a forward bend, place your hands on the floor next to your feet and bring your face towards your knees. You may wish to slightly bend your knees.
4. Inhale and stretch your right leg back, relax it on the floor, open your chest and look up.
5. Hold your breath while you move into plank, keeping your body streight and firm.
6. Exhale and drop your knees, chest and forehead on the floor.
7. Inhale into cobra, keeping your bent elbows next to your body, your chest wide open and shoulders relaxed and away from your ears.
8. Exhale into downward facing dog, press your hands against the floor and bring your heals down.
9. Inhale and bring your right leg forward between your hands. Your left leg is relaxed on the floor completely. Open your chest and look up.
10. Exhale into forward bend as you did at the beginning of the sequence.
11. Inhale while you stretch your arms forward and come up with your spine streight, arch back and push your hips forward.
12. Exhale and relax in Tadasana.
This sequence repeats on the left leg, stretching your left side of the body.
So I say, find the sun and roll out your mat wherever you can catch a glimps of it! When you wake up to clouds or a rainy day, use your Surya Namaskar practice to praise the sun and call in the sunshine into your home, heart and soul! Watch this easy to follow video: Sun Salutation
Tags: exercise