Surya Namaskar, also known as sun salutation came from Surya, which means sun and Namaskar means to bow down. Sun is the primary source of energy for Earth and if your body and mind are in tune with its cycles, you enjoy good physical and mental health. It is a major reason why the ancient art of yoga has a sequence of sun salutation.
The sun salutations comprise of 12 physical postures. These give your spinal column a good stretch through maximum range of motion. Moreover, you practice these asanas with synchronized breathing and every pose helps you maintain a proper balance. Let us now understand a bit in depth about this yoga exercise.
Science Behind Surya Namaskar
The different parts of your body are governed by energies present in your body. The Solar Plexus, which is located behind the navel is connected to the Sun.
It is why sun salutation is regarded so highly by all yoga gurus and instructors around the world. When you practice Surya Namaskar, the Solar Plexus in your navel increases in size. It unlocks your creativity, mental abilities, and intuition.
In the long run, through numerous yoga postures, chanting, and deep breathing, your mind and body get a major boost from Surya Namaskar.
However, that is not all. There are some questions that you as a yoga practitioner might have regarding Sun salutations. We will let the yoga experts answer that.
Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) – An Introductory Guide
Although sun salutation comprises of 12 poses that you practice in a repetitive manner, there are some variations to this wonderful yoga exercise.
Given below are four major types of sun salutation which you can practice.
- Hatha Surya Namaskar
- Sivananda Sun Salutation
- Ashtanga Surya Namaskar (Surya Namaskar A and B)
- Iyengar Surya Namaskar
Let us now understand each of these categories a bit in-depth.
Hatha Surya Namaskar
The word Hatha is divided into two parts namely – Ha which represents Sun and Tha which represents the moon. There are a total of 24 poses which you perform in Hatha Surya Namaskar.
The sun salutation you practice in Hatha yoga is also the most ancient form of Surya Namaskar. It is done at slow speed with you holding every pose for longer time. This form of sun salutations is best suited for those who find this exercise a bit uncomfortable.
Do you know which yoga poses are done in Hatha Surya Namaskar? Read below to know the answer.
- Prayer Pose
- Raised Arm Pose
- Standing Forward Bend
- Equestrian Pose
- Staff Pose
- Eight Limbed Pose
- Cobra Pose
- Mountain Pose
- Equestrian Pose
- Standing Forward Bend Pose
- Raised Arms Pose
- Prayer Pose
Each of these sun salutation pose improvess your body’s level of strength and flexibility. It also takes care of the three doshas namely Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Yoga gurus recommend this form of Surya Namaskar to keep you away from numerous health issues.
Ashtanga Surya Namaskar
Ashtanga Surya Namaskar is way different from the traditional Surya Namaskar in terms of sequence, poses, and the speed of practice. In comparison, it is much faster and focuses on combining breathing and body movement when moving from one asana to the next.
Two variations of the sun salutaion you practice in this style of Surya Namaskar are;
Surya Namaskar A
The first sequence of yoga asanas you practice in the Ashtanga Surya Namaskar. This one comprises of 10 yoga poses. Just 5 rounds of this sequence is enough to help the body generate heat and develop stamina.
The 10 poses you practice in this form of sun salutation include;
- Tadasana
- Urdhva Hastasana
- Uttanasana
- Ardha Uttanasana
- Chaturanga Dandasana
- Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
- Adho Mukha Svanasana
- Uttanasana
- Urdhva Hastasana
- Tadasana
Now, let us check out the second part of the Ashtanga Surya Namaskar.
Surya Namaskar B
This is a bit intense sun salutation sequence in comparison to the previous one. Every breath in this sequence is accompanied by a movement in the consecutive yoga asana.
However, there are a total of 19 yoga poses in this sequence namely;
- Mountain Pose
- Chair Pose
- Standing Forward Bend
- Half Forward Bend Pose
- Four Limbed Staff Pose
- Upward Facing Dog Pose
- Downward Facing Dog Pose
- Warrior I
- Four Limbed Staff Pose
- Upward Facing Dog Pose
- Downward Facing Dog
- Half Forward Bend Pose
- Standing Forward Bend Pose
- Chair Pose
- Mountain Pose
Did you notice that there was a flow of Four Limbed Staff Pose to Upward Dog Pose and finally to Downward Dog and Warrior I pose? The reason being this is a vinyasa flow sequence which helps your body develop the strength to continue the sun salutation practice.
Sivananda Surya Namaskar
Sun salutations practiced in Sivananda Surya Namaskar were taught by Swami Vishnudevananda who was a disciple of Sivananda Saraswati.
The Sivananda Surya Namaskar is similar to Hatha sun salutation sequence. There are a total of 12 poses which you do in one continuous round. However, you transition from one yoga asana to the next at a medium pace.
Iyengar Surya Namaskar
This is a fastly transitioning flow of yoga poses and is quite similar to the Hatha sun salutation. It includes a total of 12 yoga asanas which you can practice using some yoga props.
Given below is a breakdown of the Iyengar Surya Namaskar.
- Mountain Pose
- Upward Hand Pose
- Standing Forward Bend Pose
- Half Standing Forward Bend Pose
- High Plank Pose
- Four-Limbed Staff Pose
- Upward Facing Dog
- Downward Facing Dog Pose
- Half Standing Forward Bend
- Standing Forward Bend
- Upward Hand Pose
- Mountain Pose
However, for you to practice sun salutation without any hassle, you should avoid making certain mistakes.
Mistakes Beginners Make During Sun Salutation
Given below are 10 mistakes which you should when doing Surya Namaskar as a beginner.
1. Not Performing Breathing Technique Correctly
Keep in mind that sun salutation are a part of the yogic practices. Therefore, like every yoga pose you need to synchronize the body movement with proper breathing. Forgetting to breath during sun salutations would not yield the proper results. Yoga experts recommend you practice slowly but correctly.
2. Skipping the Hasta Uttanasana
If you ignore the Hasta Uttanasana, it leads to breakage in the balance of breathing and body movement. Doing this takes away the chance to strengthen and compress your spine. At the same time, it also puts unnecessary pressure on your neck.
3. Dropping the Lower Spine During Chaturanga Dandasana
When you do the four-limbed staff pose, as a beginner you might put undue pressure on the lower spine. This leads to the lower body sinking towards the floor and you suffering from a debilitating back pain.
The solution to doing sun salutation without commiting this mistake is simple. Press your legs and palms into the ground. Engage your abdominal and upper body muscles. This ensures your spinal cord stays erect.
4. Getting Confused Between Cobra and Upward Facing Dog Pose
As a beginner to Surya Namaskar, you might get confused between the Cobra and Upward Facing Dog pose. As a result you do not practice either yoga asanas. You should first start with the Cobra pose and then move onto the dog pose.
5. Not Moving Forward in Ashwa Sanchalanasana
Keep in mind that towards the end of sun salutation you might find moving from Downward Dog pose to the Equestrian pose a bit confusing. It is what gets your body into a weird position which extends the knees beyond what is normal. The result? Too much pressure on your knees and hip flexors.
6. Not Doing Proper Warm-Up
At times, instead of performing a warm-up routine before doing the Surya Namaskar, you might jump straight into it. This results in a serious muscle injury especially if your body is not flexible.
Also, you should follow a proper cool down routine after completing the sequence. Yoga experts recommend you start with some light stretching and joint rotation.
7. Increasing the Number of Sets
For starters, yoga experts recommend that you should practice four rounds of sun salutation and increase the number of rounds over time. It gives your body enough time to understand the movement involved in the entire sequence.
8. Incomplete Sequence
After doing all the Surya Namaskar poses, you have to come back to the Pranamasana position as it what marks the completion of one cycle of this yoga sequence. However, if you decide to skip this pose it will lead to an incomplete cycle.
9. Poor Alignment
Every sun salutation asana requires your utmost attention and dedication. Therefore, you must practice each yoga asana using the correct technique. Remember, a poor alignment will only cause strain, injure your joints, and worsen the back pain. Make sure your mind stays in the present moment and not wanders off during the practice.
10. Doing All 12 Sets In One Go
For you to feel the calming effects of Surya Namaskar, remember to do this yoga sequence slowly. As a beginner you might be tempted to do all the 12 sets in one session, do not do that. Yoga experts recommend you take breaks and work at your own speed.
Now, if you manage to steer clear of all these mistakes, there is a world of benefits waiting for you.
Health Benefits of Sun Salutation
Let us now check out some of the major benefits of sun salutation practice.
1. Improves Flexibility and Tones the Body
There are numerous yoga asanas in sun salutation which engage different parts of your body. In the long run, this tones your body and makes it more flexible.
2. Weight Loss
Daily practice of Surya Namaskar improves your metabolism which reduces weight in the belly area. Moreover, it stretches your abdominal muscles, strengthens the skeletal system, and prevents unwanted fat deposition.
3. Improves Energy & Self-Awareness
Like other yoga asanas, the sun salutation also focuses on breathing exercises. It relaxes your mind and improves the intellect. A relaxed mind combined with a healthy body improves your energy levels and self-awareness.
4. Stabilizes Emotional Health
In yoga, deep breathing techniques when combined with the right asana have a positive effect on the nerve cells. Doing sun salutations regularly helps create a balance between your left and right brain. It is what improves emotional stability and also unleashes your creative side.
Sun Salutation FAQs
Given below are the 7 most common questions that come to every yoga practitioner’s mind when they are just starting with Surya Namaskar.
1. Why Should I Practice Sun Salutation?
Put simply, the sun salutation offers your body a complete workout including flexing, stretching, and toning the muscles. Even if you want to lose excess weight, doing Surya Namaskar is more than enough.
Moreover, besides helping you lose weight, Sun Salutations also improve body posture, , minimize depression and anxiety, and regulate the digestive system.
2. Can I Practice Sun Salutations in the Evening?
Yes! Yoga experts say that you can practice sun salutation during the evenings. If you have a busy morning schedule, you can do Surya Namaskar in the evening time.
However, if the moon is visible then you can also practice Moon Salutation which offers the same benefits as sun salutations.
3. How Many Times A Day Should I Practice Sun Salutations?
You should practice a minimum of 3 to 4 rounds of sun salutations as a beginner. With time, you can increase your stamina and push it to a minimum of 12 rounds. You can do Surya Namaskar at least 2 to 3 times on an empty stomach.
4. What is the Best Place for Sun Salutations?
There is no restriction on where you should practice sun salutation. However, yoga experts recommend that you practice it within natural surroundings, facing the Sun or the East direction.
5. How Many Calories Do Sun Salutations Burn?
A full round of sun salutations takes a maximum of 4 minutes to complete. One minute of the practice burns around 3.79 calories. Therefore, you burn a total of 13.90 calories. You would burn a total of 55 calories in 4 rounds of Surya Namaskar.
6. Should I Consult A Doctor Before Doing Sun Salutations?
If you are a beginner to sun salutation, you should consult a doctor first. Without a doubt, you should visit a doctor especially if you suffer from stiff neck, back, or knee pain. The medical professional can guide you if Surya Namaskar would suit your present condition.
7. What is the Best Time for Sun Salutations?
Ideally, the best time to practice Surya Namaskar is during the early morning or before sunrise. Make sure you practice sun salutations on an empty stomach.
The reason for early morning practice is that it activates your chakras and provides energy to carry on for the day. Remember to finish the practice with the Shavasana (Corpse Pose) as it relaxes your mind and body.
