Sun Salutations...part of a complete breakfast.
If you have been to my yoga classes you know that I am a huge fan of Surya Namaskara A and B. Those who haven't been to my class and have no idea what a Surya Namaskara is, you are in for a treat. Surya Namaskar, or the sun salutations, are a dynamic sequence of yoga postures from Hatha yoga. There are so many benefits of doing these poses regularly that I call them my "minimum daily requirement." To name a few, the sun salutations tones the abdominals, relaxes the neck and spine, stretches the hamstrings, strengthens and opens the shoulders, regulates the breath, and improves blood circulation. In Ashtanga Yoga they are always done at the beginning of the sequence in order to warm up the joints and the major muscle groups, preparing the body for the standing and seated postures.When I don't have time for a full session of yoga, I will do my minimum daily requirement of 5 sun salutation A's and 5 sun salutation B's. This sequence alone takes only 10 minutes, keeps my body flexible and strong and quiets my mind.Here is a video, if you want to give it a try: http://wellbalanced.me/video/A few tips for practice:
- Make each movement as mindful as possible.
- Attach a breath with each movement.
- Keep your abdominals engaged to bring more energy to your practice and keep the low back strong.
- Be patient. It can take a little while of regular practice of these poses before they feel fluid.
With regular practice of these poses, you will start to feel stronger, more flexible and more mindful of your body.Namaste!