Here is how….. Start your day with Surya Namaskar or the Sun Salutation.
When it comes to maintaining a good level of physical health, environmental and dietary considerations are important, but keeping fit is fundamental. This becomes more true the older we get. Keeping fit does not necessarily mean lifting wights every day or jogging for 30 minutes before breakfast, but regular exercise will help you to feel trimmer, better about your body and better about yourself.
To allow the body to function well, we need a good balance of movement and relaxation. Both movement and relaxation are essential to keep our blood circulating, allowing nutrients and oxygen to reach each cell. This is how we make our energy.
Stress and an unhealthy lifestyle can create blockages in the flow of energy through the chakras (energy centres in your body), and this could ultimately lead to illness. Many types of yoga aim to clear these blockages and allow the life-force energy to flow freely, so it’s a really good way to boost your overall wellbeing and improve your muscle tone and posture.
A good way to start your day is Surya Namaskar or the Sun Salutation.There are many variations on Surya Namaskar, but here is one I like and easy to do.
Surya Namaskar, are traditionally performed in the morning to greet the new day.
In the practice of Surya Namaskar, the body is linked to the movement, mind and breath to bring about a feeling of balance, relaxation and harmony. It improves a variety of ailments, strengthens and tones muscles and develops flexibility. Various movements in the postures result in blood saturating, nourishing and cleansing the remotest parts of the body. It will increase your concentration, stills the mind and promotes a feeling of balance, tranquility and contentment for all day.
The sequence of 8 postures can be a complete practice in itself, or can prepare you for a longer asana routine. Sun Salutes are often performed in sets of 4 to 20, but if you are new to the practice it's wise to begin with 2 or 3. Each time you flow through this sequence, synchronize your breath with the movements of your body.
1. To begin, stand in Mountain Pose. Distribute your weight evenly over both feet. Establish a slow, steady rhythm for your breath. Find your center.
2. Next, inhale and stretch your arms out to the side and overhead into Upward Hand Pose. Reach your heart and arms to the heavens, sending your greeting to the sun.
3. As you exhale, hollow out your belly and fold into Standing Forward Bend pose, connecting down into the earth. Keep your legs firmly engaged.
4. Inhale and lengthen your spine forward into Half Standing Forward Bend pose. In this pose, the gaze is lifted, the spine is extended, and the fingertips can stay on the floor or rise to the shins.
5. Exhale and step or lightly hop your feet back behind you into Plank Pose. Your wrists should be flat on the floor, shoulder-distance apart, and your feet should be at hip distance. Take a full breath in as you lengthen through your spine.
6. Exhale and lower into Four-Limbed Staff Pose, keeping your legs straight and pushing back into your heels or bringing your knees to the floor. Build heat in the center of your body as you hold this challenging posture.
7. Inhale and carve your chest forward into Upward-Facing Dog pose, directing that energy out from your heart. Pull your shoulders back and open your collarbones. Engage your legs but relax your gluteal muscles.
8. Exhale and roll over the toes, coming into Downward-Facing Dog Pose. Ground down through your hands and feet as you lengthen your spine. Remain here for five breaths.
9. On your fifth exhale, bend your knees and look between your hands. Then inhale and step or lightly hop your feet between your hands, returning to Half Standing Forward Bend pose.
10. Exhale back to Standing Forward Bend pose, surrendering into the fold.
11. Inhale, reaching your arms out wide to your sides and coming to stand through a flat back. Feel a renewed sense of energy as you draw your arms overhead into Upward Hand Pose.
12. Exhale and return to Mountain Pose, your home base. Remain here for a few breaths, feeling the movement of energy through your body, or continue on to your next salute.
Good luck and let me know how it feels.
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