Have you ever heard other people, or yoga instructors, mention that they practice at home and
thought to yourself,
"I wish I could but I don
'
t have time, don
'
t know what to do, or I don
'
t know enough yoga to do that?" I think we all have at one time or another, but I would like to tell you that it is much easier than you may think.
Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) is one of the most widely practiced sequences of asanas in yoga, and is also one of the most beneficial. Unless you are an absolute newbie to yoga, I
'
m sure you have been in a yoga class where some style of Sun Salutations were practiced. There are a number of variations (around 18) but they all accomplish the same thing, and that is to move the body. My favourite, and the one I practise every day, (OK, not every day but as often as I can ;-) is what I refer to as classical Surya Namaskar. If you are unsure of what that looks like, please click
here
for more details.
Sun Salutations are best done in the morning but are very beneficial regardless of the time of day you are able to practise. If you can, have your mat facing east (to the rising sun) but if not, no problem. Breathing can add a different dimension depending on what your intention for your practice is on that day. Breathing quickly means the benefits are more on the physical side while breathing slowly (holding each pose for 2 - 3 breaths) means the benefits are more mental and spiritual. Do as many as you feel comfortable with, or that you have time for. It will take you roughly one and a half to two minutes to do both sides, which is a 1 complete Sun Salutation.
The benefits of this sequence of asanas are many but here are a few of them:
* it improves circulation of blood throughout the body. * improves digestion by stretching and compressing the abdominal organs. * active inhalation and exhalation helps oxygenate the blood and detoxify the body. * improves flexibility. * helps improve memory and is calming. * normalizes the activity of the endocrine system, especially the thyroid.
As with everything, the choice is yours. As my students have heard in my classes, I encourage you break old habits and start a home practice. Set aside 5 minutes a day for you, to start, and see how much better you feel. I know one thing for sure - YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!
Should you have any questions, please feel free to seek me out at the studio or contact me at
golfingyogi54@gmail.com
All the best in good health.
Harry
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