Surya Namaskara

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Diamond Mountain students were sponsored to complete 108 sun salutations (surya namaskar) to raise money for the Diamond Mountain campground.

Sūrya namaskāra (Salute to the Sun) also commonly called Surya Namaskar, is a form of worshiping God by concentrating on the Sun, the giver of energy to the world, for self vitalization. This sequence of movements and poses can be practised on varying levels of awareness, ranging from that of physical exercise in various styles, to a complete sadhana which incorporates asana, pranayama, mantra and chakra meditation.

The physical base of the practice links together twelve asanas in a dynamically performed series. These asanas are ordered so that they alternately stretch the spine backwards and forwards. When performed in the usual way, each asana is moved into with alternate inhalation and exhalation (except for the sixth asana where the breath is held in external suspension). A full round of sūrya namaskāra is considered to be two sets of the twelve poses with a change in the second set to moving the opposite leg first through the series.

Proponents of the use of Sūrya namaskāra as part of the modern yoga tradition prefer to perform it at sunrise, which the orthodox consider to be the most 'spiritually favourable' time of the day.

[edit] Origins

For a detailed article see Surya Namaskar Origins

This procedure is derived from the Vedas, the oldest texts of Hindu literature. Trucha Kalpa Nitya Vidhi and Aditya Prasna are the popular ancient Vedic forms of performing salutations to the Sun. The Puranas, which were written after the Vedas, also have procedures of sun salutations described in them. “Aditya Hrudayam” which is mentioned in Ramayana, explains sun salutation with mantras that are similar to the present day Surya Namaskar. In addition to the philosophy, structure of the procedure and mantras of Surya Namaskar, the series of physical postures themselves have old origins. Raja of Aundh is a modern Indian leader who has popularized Surya Namaskar as a form of physical exercise.

[edit] Series summary

[edit] Practice suitability and cautions

Sūrya namaskāra is a gentle practice. This makes it open to people of all ages and levels. However, teachers caution that it is also a very powerful practice and that it can be unobvious while performing the series how much effect it is having on the body. They advise that it is important to have not eaten for at least three hours before practising, to not overdo the exercise and to rest adequately afterwards. Usually practitioners rest in shavasana (the corpse pose) while their respiration and heartbeat return to normal.

As with all exercise maximal benefit is obtained by performing the practice regularly, rather than excessive performance in any one session.

[edit] References

• Sūrya Namaskāra, A Technique of Solar Vitalization, Swami Satyananda Saraswati, ISBN 81-85787-35-2.
• Sūryanamaskāra, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, New York: Ashtanga Yoga New York, 2005.
• Yoga in Modern India, Joseph S. Alter, Princeton University Press, 2004.
• Ten Point Way to Health, Rajah of Aundh, J.M. Dent & Sons, 1938

[edit] See also

Surya – Hindu sun god

[edit] External links

• Exposition of practice from Prana Yoga Ashram
• Surya Namaskaras in Ashtanga yoga
• Sun Salutation yoga video