Surya Namaskar: Poses And Benefits

The salute to the Sun or Surya Namaskar is a warm-up exercise in yoga which improves suppleness and stamina of the body.

Poses

Stand straight and look ahead. Breathe normally and hold palms against each other in a praying position. Keep shoulders down.

Take a side step with left foot such that legs are separated. Inhale to fling the arms and head backwards. Now, exhale and bring head and arms towards feet.

Inhale and take the left leg backwards, bend and let arms be up and straight, palms facing each other.

Bring hands down and let the right leg be placed parallel to left leg such that body is balanced on foot fingers and palms. Bring knees down and slowly bring the buttocks over the ankles such that the head is kept facing the ground and arms stretched forward.

Inhale and dive forward, chin close to the floor. Body is supported by palms and knees. Now, swing forward, curve your hips and spine and look upwards; arm straight.

Finally, exhale and raise the hips and place feet firmly on the ground. Your body should be in an inverted V-shape with respect to the floor. Inhale; bring left leg backwards and straight. Fold right leg and keep it forward. Exhale and once again bring head towards feet. Inhale to swing backwards as before.

Finally, come back to the initial position of standing straight.

Health Benefits

All the poses in the Surya namaskar contribute in providing you with better health and fitness. Daily practice of Surya namaskar makes the body flexible, especially, the limbs and the spine regions. The practice reduces signs of aging and is a significant way to prevent onset of wrinkles.

It is one of the easiest ways for reducing belly fat, obtaining a flat stomach and staying thin. Surya namaskar improves blood circulation and thus prevents hair loss, dandruff and pre-mature graying of hair. Also, the skin glows due to improve circulation.

Women practicing Surya namaskar can get rid of menstrual troubles like PMS, dysmenorrhea and irregular periods. It improves health of sex organs. It even aids in easy child birth and reduces anxiety experienced during pregnancy.