Salutations For Our Sun
I love doing anything to enjoy the Sun, it feeds my Soul and where I think "Solar" derived from originally. Without it's heat, our earth freezes, without it's light eventually we perish physically, and decline emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Remember how we all felt this winter with El Nino weather patterns and the lack of sunshine? Surya Namaskar helps us ignite our Solar Plexus, rain or shine!
Yoga Sun Breaths and Sun Salutations, Surya (Sun) Namaskar (salute or greeting) are similar but differ. Sun Breaths are also known as a Half Sun Salutations. Surya Namaskar adds more challenge and heat building flow-through poses:
- Downward Facing Dog
- Low Lunge (arms up or down)
- High Plank (knees up or down)
- Low Plank
- Cobra or Upward Facing Dog
We do Low Lunges on both side before stepping forward to return to the front of the mat in a Forward Fold.
The illustration shows 11 Postures as1st begins and ends at Mountain Pose, like 12 o'clock. Symbolic like 12 hours in a half day, 12 months in a year. Tadasana. I call it "Tada, we did it". Traditionally 3 sets are done to fully warm up the body.
Note, I recommend not letting your head fall back loosely in back bends or any pose without subtle engagement of the neck to prevent injury.
There are variations to what we call Sun Salutations. I kept it simple with the basics knowing there are potential add-on poses. At Fusion, I encourage creativity for our teachers and to have fun.
Next week I will introduce your next advancements, differences between a Sun Salutation A and B (Sun A or B for short), there is even as C! I'll share tips to enjoy them before Coco's Spring Into High Vibes A Spring Equinox Sun Salutations Practice. March 23rd event (see Events or below) or for you to practice at home or in studio with your Fusion Community of Yogis, your Kula.
Sun Worshipper,
Gina
Fusion Owner, Registered Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master Teacher, R.N.
BREATHE. MOVE. CONNECT.