Amid the monotony of daily life, in the process of excelling at things we do—be great in college,
pitch the perfect presentation that will get you a promotion, close a deal that will double your
profits—we frequently lose sight of what allows us to do those things—our body, mind, and
health. There is very little time for today’s ultra-modern working professionals to relax, let alone
find time for physical activity in their busy schedules. It seems impossible to find even an hour of
free time. Well, if you find yourself in the same dilemma, don’t worry! The time commitment
required to maintain fitness is minimal. The answer to your difficulty may lie in the cosmos. Just
cast your gaze beyond, toward the sun.
The sun is the source of life on our planet. Ever since the beginning of time, people have looked
to the sun for inspiration and energy. Indians have worshipped the sun as a deity since time
immemorial. People respected and revered the sun in our country and other ancient cultures.
Our ancient yogis have known for thousands of years how important the sun is as a source of
life and life support. That’s because they knew the science behind how life was made and kept
going for thousands of years before high-tech laboratories proved it. They understood that just
as it sustains life, it also kills germs and viruses to make our bodies disease-free. They were
probably unaware of Vitamin D then but were spiritually and scientifically wise enough to
recognize its cleansing effect on the body. That is why they incorporated the Sun Salutation, or
Surya Namaskar, as it is more widely known in its authentic term, as one of the basic tenets of
yoga.
From a scientific point of view, the sun gives the world the heat and light it needs to support life.
Therefore, taking even ten minutes each day to focus on yourself can significantly improve
many aspects of your life. As a result, Surya Namaskar, or Sun Salutation, has a variety of
physiological impacts on the human body. First and foremost, it instills discipline in you. When
you commit to doing Surya Namaskar first thing in the morning, no matter how erratic your
professional life is, you create a routine that should be consistent with you and keep you on
track. This will stabilize your life despite the many changes.
In terms of the body, it has the same effect as a complete workout. It only takes 10 minutes of
Surya Namaskar to burn 139 calories, which is more than you’d burn even if you went swimming
for the same amount of time. So 30 minutes of the same will burn 417 calories. Compare that to
burning 200 calories for weightlifting, 300 calories for football, and cycling around 330 calories
for the same length of time. In addition to lowering blood sugar levels, it strengthens your
muscles and helps maintain your back. So it does wonders for your strengths as well as your
back, and it also helps bring your blood sugar levels down. Also, it boosts your metabolism and
blood circulation.
Twelve different yoga postures make up the Surya Namaskar routine. Surya Namaskar is an
excellent cardiovascular workout, especially if done at sunrise for at least 12 repetitions. When
done slowly, these positions also help tone the muscles and make it easier to relax and
meditate. The effects of these powerful yoga poses are felt all over the body, from head to toe.
Daily practice of the Sun Salutation brings the body’s Vata, Pitta, and Kapha energies closer to
a state of equilibrium, which is one of the primary benefits of this asana.
Surya Namaskar is best done at dawn, but it is optional to be done in the morning compulsorily.
In the end, it is a form of physical exercise that offers meditative and physiological benefits. So if
you miss it in the morning, you can also practice it in the evening. But it’s always better to do it
on an empty stomach.
How can you learn the perfect asanas for the perfect Surya Namaskar, along with additional
information like a suitable diet, to give you the ultimate benefits?
Join our Sun Salutation workshop at https://aaymonline.org/sun-salutations/ between the 15th
and 28th of January. Learn from the world’s foremost yoga experts about the secrets and the
science behind it, and start your journey towards a more holistic approach to better health.
