SPECTACULAR Benefits Of SURYA NAMASKAR – (Sun Salutation) Will Change Your Life
MEANING OF SUN SALUTATION
Surya Namaskar, also known as 'The Ultimate Asana’, consists of two words: Surya & Namaskar. Surya means Sun & Namaskar means Salutation or Worship. And hence it is the salutation to the Sun. Sun Salutation is one of the finest yoga practices for the overall development of the mind, body and soul. Practicing this dynamic yoga exercise, which comprises of 12 yoga postures, helps in mental, physical, spiritual, and social domains of the practitioner. This wonderful practice revitalizes the whole body and is an excellent source to extract the maximum benefits from other asanas, pranayama, and meditation. Not just in its own entirety, but it also helps bind, blend and boost mental & physical health benefits from other practices as well.
So why is this traditional sequence of postures called?Surya Namaskar?practiced? The logical conclusion is that the sun is the life or energy source for this planet and is an element in everything we eat, drink or breathe. The earth and the moon are significant in the way they affect life, but the sun is the source of all energy and when one is in tune with the cycles of the sun, physical health, well-being, vitality, and energy, are all yours. Only through learning how to better “digest” the sun, internalize it, and make it a part of your system, do you truly benefit from this process. Surya Namaskar, also known as Sun Salutation, is therefore a process to harness the solar energy to build a dimension within you where your physical cycles become in sync with the sun’s cycles of twelve-and-a-quarter years. So it is by design that Sun Salutation has twelve postures or twelve asanas in it.
Sun Salutation?is almost like a smooth rhythmic trance like dance form with each position sequenced and designed to compliment the other. Its a complete system of rejuvenating the whole body, joints and the muscles. And the whole practice of forward & backward bends and the stretching of all limbs makes it a complete practice in itself.
Physical Benefits of Sun Salutation
Sun Salutation which comprises of a sequence of 12 yoga postures, is best done at sunrise. If done fast, it provides a good cardiovascular workout. If done at a slower pace, these postures help tone the muscles and can relax the system with meditative calm. Regular practice of Sun Salutation improves the functions of the heart, liver, intestine, stomach, chest, throat, and legs – basically, the whole body. Imagine a daily cardio & strength training with full flex everyday in just 12-15 minutes?
Though pretty much a complete set of asanas in itself, Sun Salutation also forms an excellent link as a warm-up before other yoga asanas. An?Asana?is a body posture and?Yoga?means that which takes you on to a higher dimension or higher perception of life. So, a posture which leads you to a higher possibility is called a “Yogasana.” Among the yogasanas, there are 84 basic asanas through which one can elevate their consciousness or awareness. Out of this, if you have mastery over even a single yogasana, everything that one is seeking can be known. If you happen to be sad or distressed, observe your posture and you will notice the body is slouched and head hung low. This can be reversed by consciously getting your body into a certain posture and thus elevating your system’s situation and awareness. You can change the very way you feel, think, understand, and experience life by sitting in a particular way. Sun Salutation is one of these systems.
It energises all the body organs & systems through stretching, toning compressing, harmonizing, and synchronizing of the body-mind complex. It helps restore vitality, and is an excellent antidote for stress & depression thus greatly helpful in overcoming emotional disturbances. Sun salutation is the single yoga exercise that impacts all the organ systems of the body. And the beneficiaries are the digestive system, excretory system, circulatory system, respiratory system, endocrine system, nervous system, and skeleton system.
And specifically, it helps you balance between the right and left sides of the brain. Sun Salutation brings you more emotional stability and increases your creativity and mental capacity. I’ve personally seen a great deal of change in all that in less than a month. The body loves the Sun Salutation stretches and its the best flex ever. Each posture in every set is a brilliant rhythmic movement that not just energises you leaving you with sweet serotonin but also gives you great muscular strength flexing your dormant muscles and mental agility as if there’s a lot of letting go happening with mental unlocking of darkness through the sunshine that penetrates your being.?It strengthens your back as well as your muscles and brings down blood sugar levels. It also improves metabolism and blood circulation (hence, a glowing skin) and ensures regular menstrual cycle for women. And a fab benefit is a nice & glowing skin which is a result of good blood circulation, good digestion, relaxation and good sleep… oh my God.. its amazing for those suffering from insomnia.. you sleep like a baby.
You get all of this with Sun Salutation !
Though the exercise can be performed any time during the day, doing it on an empty stomach would give you the maximum benefits.
Lets discuss some interesting bullet points in details real quick..
Weight Loss- Sun salutation is an effective tool to burn calories and help increase lean muscle mass. When performed at a faster rate, the movements help in increasing metabolism. It has been recognised as one of the most effective ways to achieve weight loss and has been tried and tested by experts throughout centuries. It strengthens your body and core muscles, improves blood flow, synchronises your breathing and keeps your body in shape.?It is helpful in reducing tummy fat and good for a flat stomach. It reduces redundant fat, especially the fat around the abdomen, hips, thighs, neck and chin. All the yoga poses of this module facilitate adequate stretching, twisting, and compressing of the entire body thus proving to be very useful for a weight loss regime.
Skin & Complexion- Regular practice of Sun salutation definitely enhances the beauty of your skin. It improves blood circulation which in turn brings a glow to your face, improves the elasticity of the skin, thus preventing the onset of wrinkles and is an effective means to having a beautiful skin and a radiant complexion. It makes you sweat profusely, which ensures the removal of accumulated toxins through the skin, thus preventing acne & pimples.
Prevention Of Hair Fall- Proven to halt the hair fall and greying, Sun Salutation also prevents baldness by increasing nutrition to the hair and scalp. Yogasanas like the mountain pose & the forward bending pose in Surya Namaskar increase blood circulation & supply to the scalp region.
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Revitalises the Nervous System & Reduces Anxiety- Yoga routines in general help improve one’s memory and the functioning of the nervous system.Surya Namaskar energises and tones the nerves and nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, lower plexus, cures brain-fog, forgetfulness, worries and helps greatly with other forms of mental disorders. It gently stretches, massages, and stimulates the nerves of the entire body. Good health of the nerves determines the efficient working of organs and muscles of the body. Surya Namaskar tones all the muscles & nerves and awakens the brain centres.?Regular practice of Surya Namaskar helps you calm down and free yourself of worries and anxiety. It normalises the activity of the endocrine glands, especially the thyroid.
Dealing with Insomnia- Sleeping patterns can be improved through the practice of Surya Namaskar. The asanas help ease tensions, relax the body and calm the mind, resulting in a good night’s sleep. With practice, you won’t need to resort to any substances to get a restful sleep for the night.
Strengthens Digestive System- Surya Namaskar greatly improves and aids in smooth functioning digestive system including stomach, pancreas, intestines, liver, etc. and cures & prevents constipation. This practice alternately stretches & compresses the body organs including the stomach. Its like a massage to the digestive system, further encouraging it to work efficiently & aiding in removing the toxins from the body.?
Invigorates The Heart- Surya Namaskar is an easy practice with great cardio benefits. It increases the heartbeat and aids in better working of the whole circulatory system. It helps pump out toxins from the body and ensures efficient heart functioning. All the cells and tissues of the body receive fresh oxygen and nutrients that lead to the health and vitality of the body. It encourages the lymphatic system to work more prominently thus helps in combating germs, bacteria, and illness. Helps cure & prevent blood pressure & palpitations.?
Corrects Hormonal Imbalance- Surya Namaskar harmonizes the different endocrine glands thus helping in removing any irregularities of such glands, which further improve their blood flow. All discomforts from menopause vanish. Child-bearing is less painful and more easy. Helps rid women of morning sickness, taste and appetite issues.. peculiar to pregnant women of course.?
The Menstrual Cycle- Surya Namaskar can be hugely beneficial for women who suffer from irregular menstrual cycles. Regular practice of the movements can help in regulating the cycle, provide relief from cramps during periods and help eliminate the menstrual pain & disorders.
Improves Lungs Function- Surya Namaskar helps in the optimum utilization of the lungs and the respiratory system. It appropriately expands and contracts the air sacs, prevents the building up of germs, and many diseases of the respiratory system. It empties the impure air from the lungs and helps the brain get fresh oxygen, making you feel full of energy and vigour. You really do feel very energised and ready to roll.?
Smoothens Kidney Function- Our kidneys are powerful chemical factories that remove waste materials from food, medication and toxic substances. They balance body fluids, release hormones that regulate blood pressure and produce active form of Vitamin-D that promotes strong healthy bones. Surya Namaskar gently massages the kidneys, increases their supply of blood as well as speeds up the circulation of blood throughout the body. Regular practice of sun salutation helps the kidneys in functioning more efficiently, which also leads to the filtration of blood through the these organs while removing the wastes & extra water.?
Strengthens Muscles and Joints- Surya Namaskar is a good way to stretch, tone and strengthen your muscles, ligaments, joints, and the skeletal system. The movements help improve the flexibility of your spine. Performing the postures in sequence on a regular basis makes your limbs become symmetrical and improves the functioning of your internal vital organs.
Aiding Detoxification- Due to the rhythmic and active breathing process, the lungs are thoroughly ventilated and the blood gets highly oxygenated. This aids the detoxification of the body while also improving the flow of lymph which carries toxins to the organs of excretion.
Other Benefits of Sun Salutation
Yoga Asanas are primarily done to align one’s body geometrically to that of the cosmic geometry and to be in sync with the cycles of nature. The basis of all spiritual seeking which is physical in nature is to get oneself in sync with the biology of nature. Being in sync with the solar cycle is an important part of balance and receptivity, a means of taking the body towards experiencing higher possibilities.
Sun Salutation?can energise and warm you even on the darkest, coldest winter day. The Sun is a daily reminder that we too can rise again from the darkness, that we too can shine our own light. Your body exists in the past and your mind exists in the future. In yoga, they come together in the present. Yoga does not transform the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees. Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in. Yoga is a light which once lit, will never dim. The better you practice, the brighter the flame.?
Yoga is not for the flexible, it’s for the willing. And where there’s a will, there’s a way.