Yes sun worshiping is real and it is actually very logical, as well as being an ancient practice. In yoga you hear about Sun Salutations, or the Sankrit term, Surya Namaskar. Surya is sun. Nama means to bow to or adore. We stand at the front of our mat with our hands together at our hearts center in the same position as we typically start and end our practice with namaste mudra, which translates into the divine light in me honors and sees the divine light within you. So, as we move through the Sun Salutations we take our arms up toward the heavens and then we bow forward turning our awareness inward and committing to our health and to our higher awareness. With each movement we aspire to gain wisdom and knowledge and to become the best versions of ourselves. It really is a prayer in motion.
Sun Salutation A, Surya Namaskra A
There are 12 postures within a Sun Salutation, which is also symbolic because there are 12 Sanskrit terms for the word sun. Moving through these 12 postures in consecutive sequence in repetition warms & energizes the body. Sun Salutations engage the core, stretch the hamstrings and loosen the shoulders. They improve circulation, massage internal organs and promote overall health. So you can use sun salutations as an excellent warm up, or start to your yoga or workout session. Or when you are short on time and energy, it can be used as your minimum daily go to for giving you a total body workout.
Sun Salutations can be beautifully adapted for your personal needs and can even be done from a chair. When practiced at a slower pace they provide a calming grounding effect, and when practiced at a faster pace they provide a good cardiovascular workout and can provide weight loss.
Why start the day day with Sun Salutations? Yoga was developed over 5000 years ago by ancient Sages in India who believed each part of the body was linked to some part of the natural world. The solar plexus (located behind the belly button) is said to be connected to the sun and associated with our emotional well being and intuition. We practice Sun Salutations first thing in the morning to clear our minds, gain calmness for the day ahead and to heighten our intuition.
Then move on to Sun Salutations B to create more heat continuing with 3-5 B's
Lets face it, we all love a little sunshine. It feels good and makes us happy. The sun grows our fruits, vegetables and flowers. It also creates light, and as we know that light helps us conquer our fears, so salute the sun. Practice Sun Salutations each day and feel yourself growing stronger, your light illuminating brighter and the warmth glowing within you. Make time for this important practice every single day. It only takes 15-20 minutes to do a proper 3-5 Sun Salutations A and Sun Salutations B sequence and you will greatly appreciate the many benefits that you will discover through this practice.
Sun Salutation A:
Inhale taking your arms up
Exhale bowing forward
inhale halfway up straight spine
exhale hands to earth, step back to plank and lower yoga push up
inhale upward dog
exhale downward dog (hold 3-5 breaths)
~work to get your heals toward the earth
~relax your ears between your arms
~let all the busy thoughts of the day and week go as you breathe in through your nose & out through your nose
Inhale look to your thumbs
Exhale to the front of the mat
Repeat 3 to 5 times
Sun Salutation B:
Inhale sweep arms down and up as you come into chair pose
Exhale forward fold straightening legs
Inhale halfway up, look to horizon
Exhale hands to earth and hop back to Chaturanga (yoga push up)
Inhale heart to the sky
Exhale hips up and back to down dog
Inhale right foot to right thumb, Warrior One
Exhale Down Dog
Inhale Left Foot to Left Thumb, Warrior One
Exhale Down Dog stay here and re connect with your breath
Relax your neck & shoulders
Consider scissoring your heels, pressing one heel at a time to the earth and lifting the opposite heel
Inhale look to your thumbs
exhale hop to the front of your mat
Repeat 3-5 times
Wishing you all an inspiring start to your week!
Shine On,
Libby
P.S. If you have questions about how to get started in your practice, how to modify postures or if you would like personal, private or corporate lessons, please contact me via email: libby@yogafitboutique.com. I would be happy to travel and I always love to connect. Namaste!