Sun Salutations: Combat Obesity & Boost Vitality in 2024

Discover the benefits of Sun Salutations, a dynamic yoga practice that helps combat obesity, improve flexibility, and boost overall health. Start your journey to a healthier you today

Benefits of Sun Salutations (Surya Namskar)

1- It is a complete exercise for the physical system.

2- No equipment is required for it.

3– This is a yoga practice done with breathing.

4- Along with this body, it also has a positive effect on the mind and soul.

5- It is a good yoga fight all diseases.

6- It strengthens the digestive system and improves our health.

7- It helps in strengthening the internal part of the stomach.

8- This keeps the body flexible.

9- All the body part become strong.

10- Helps in weight loss.

11- Detoxifies the body, which increases oxygen levels and improves circulation.

12- Reduces stress.

13– This yoga practice strengthens the spine.

14– Improves absorption of nutrients.

15- Increases awareness of energy in the body.

16- Calms the mind and awakens the senses.

17- All the asanas focus on our various muscle groups and tissue centers called the chakras, which helps to tune all the body and improves the body posture.

18- Activates Solar Plexus & Samath Prana.

19- Clears Excess Mucus in the System.

20- Supports Physical Mental & spiritual Wellbeing.

21- Balances Glandular Secretion.

Combat Obesity

Surya Namskar helps in weight loss. Surya Namaskar burns calories, increases metabolism. Also, it helps in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. When we dicide to do Surya Namaskar regularly, the best part is that we don’t need to go to the gym or do any other vigorous exercise. All you need is a yoga mat and you can start is anywhere. We can also practice meditation before and after it to calm your mind and improve your mental health.

Research shows that each round of Surya Namaskar burns 13.90 calories. Ideally, it should be done in 12 repetitions. Of course, start slowly and then go up to 12 Surya Namaskars, which will help you burn 416 calories. Also each round takes only 3.5 to 4 minutes.

Posture Of Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar)

Surya Namaskar is a complete yoga in itself. It is a complete cycle of 12 exercises. Suryanamskar is a basic exercise, It is warm-up of yoga. This is a wonderful effort or yoga to bring our body system in harmony with the rest of the solar system. it activates the Manipura Chakra of our body, which determines our physical strength, mental health, spiritual potential, everything is determineds by this. It is to be useful for people of all ages.

A typical Sun salutation cycle is-

1. Pranamasana (Prayer Pose)

On a small grassy ground or yoga mat, stand straight and calm your breathing. Join your palms together at the center of your chest to salute the Sun God. Keep your elbows in a straight line.

2. Hasta Uttanasana (Raised Arms Pose)

Keep both hands at shoulder level and spread fingers apart then while taking a breath, stretch both hands and the entire body and lift the hands up and bring them backwards, waist inwards and both legs absolutely straight, do not bend them.

3. Padahastasana (Hand-to-Foot Pose)

Exhale slowly and keeping your waist staight, slowly try to touch the ground or your toes with both hand. Try to put your head on your knees. be careful not to bend your knees. If the stretch is too much, we can bend the knees a little.

4. Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge Pose)

Breathing slowly, gently bend your knees and keep your palms parallel to both your feet, Then gently take your left leg back and place your toes and knees on the ground, raise your right leg to 90 degree parallel to both hands, bend your waist a little inwards while keeping your neck straight and allow a little stretch in your legs.

5. Dandasana (Plank Pose)

Hold your breath, lift the left leg above the floor, bring your right leg parallel to the left leg and rest your whole body on the claws and both palms, keeping the waist high and straight keeping the eyes on the ground so that the body remains in a straight line Be careful the shoulders should be in line with the palms.

6. Ashtanga Namaskara (Eight-Limbed Pose)

While inhaling, keep the knees down, lift the hips, bring the chest between the palms then rest it on the ground and then keep the chin or forehead on the ground and hold the breath inside,

7. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)

While lowering the hips, push the body forward and spread the toes of the feet outwards so that there will be no back pain. While inhaling, lift the body slightly on both the palms. Make sure that the elbows are slightly bent so that the heart and lungs are relaxed, To remain strong, make a pose like a snake with the head raised up.

8. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Dog Pose)

While exhaling, raise your knees and move your hips up and take your head inward and then try to look at the toes of both your feet and try to plant the heels of your feet on the ground.

9. Anjaneyasana (Opposite Foot)

While inhaling, The foot which we had taken back, now we have to bring the same foot forward first, Slowly bring the right leg between the two palms in a 90 degree angle. make sure that the left leg will remain behind in its place. If the right leg in not coming directly between the two hands, then keep the left knee on the ground. and then try to comfortable make the right foot between both the hands. Stretch the left caws outward, Eyes straight, waist slightly inwards and then give a slight stretch to both the legs.

10. Padahastasana (Hand-to-Foot Pose)

While exhaling, keep the left leg parallel to the right leg and then do same uttanasana. keeping your waist staight, slowly try to touch the ground or your toes with both hand, Try to put your head on your knees. be careful not to bend your knees If the stretch is too much, we can bend the knees a little.

11. Hasta Uttanasana (Raised Arms Pose)

While breathing, pull the hands, keep legs straight and waist slightly and slowly raise the hands upwards and go backwards.

12. Pranamasana (Prayer Pose)

While normalizing the breathing, join both the hands together, keep your elbows in a straight line and then lower the hands comfortably.

Then close the eyes, spread the legs a little and let the body come to normal position.

Conclusion

Surya Namaskar is a complete yoga practice that integrates physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. Practicing these 12 postures regularly can significantly improve your overall well-being.

Mantras and Chakras in Sun Salutations

According to Hindu tradition, it is very important to chant some mantras while doing Surya Nmaskar, only then there asanas will benefit us completely, We should pronounce these mantras while starting our asanas. The Chakra is a concept in Hinduism that refers to energy centers in the body. Which mantra is chanted in which asana and what benefits we get from it are as follows.

1. Om Mitraya Namah (Pranamasana)

Significance: The heart chakra stores and distributes energy, promoting compassion and emotional balance.

Meaning: Prostration to him who is affectionate to all.

Associated Chakra: Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra).

Location: Center of the chest, near the physical heart.

2. Om Ravaye Namah (Hasta Uttanasana)

• Meaning: Prostration to him who is the cause for change.
• Associated Chakra: Vishuddha Chakra (Throat Chakra).
• Location: Positioned at the throat, near the spine, with its activation point in the pit of the throat.
• Significance: This chakra governs communication, self-expression, and truth.

3. Om Suryaya Namah (Padahastasana)

• Meaning: Prostration to him who induces activity.
• Associated Chakra: Svadhisthana Chakra (Sacral Chakra).
• Location: Two finger widths above the root chakra, near the tailbone.
• Significance: Enhances creativity, confidence, and emotional balance while overcoming fear.

4. Om Bhanave Namah (Anjaneyasana)

• Meaning: Prostration to him who diffuses light.
• Associated Chakra: Ajna Chakra (Third Eye Chakra).
• Location: Center of the forehead, between the eyebrows.
• Significance: Represents intuition, insight, and connection to higher consciousness.

5. Om Khagaya Namah (Dandasana)

Associated Chakra: Vishuddha Chakra (Throat Chakra).

Meaning: Prostration to him who moves in the sky.

6. Om Pusne Namah (Ashtanga Namaskara)

• Meaning: Prostration to him who nourishes all.
• Associated Chakra: Manipura Chakra (Solar Plexus Chakra).
• Location: Above the navel.
• Significance: Associated with fire and transformation, this chakra governs confidence and personal power.

7. Om Hiranyagarbhaya Namah (Bhujangasana)

• Meaning: Prostration to him who contains everything.
• Associated Chakra: Svadhisthana Chakra (Sacral Chakra).

8. Om Maricaye Namah (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

• Meaning: Prostration to him who possesses rays.
• Associated Chakra: Vishuddha Chakra (Throat Chakra).

9. Om Adityaya Namah (Anjaneyasana)

• Meaning: Prostration to him who is God of gods.
• Associated Chakra: Ajna Chakra (Third Eye Chakra).

10. Om Savitre Namah (Padahastasana)

• Meaning: Prostration to him who produces everything.
• Associated Chakra: Svadhisthana Chakra (Sacral Chakra).

11. Om Arkaya Namah (Hasta Uttanasana)

Associated Chakra: Vishuddha Chakra (Throat Chakra).

Meaning: Prostration to him who is fit to be worshipped.

12. Om Bhaskaray Namah (Pranamasana)

• Meaning: Prostration to him who is the cause of lustre.

Conclusion

Chanting these mantras while performing the respective asanas activates the associated chakras, enhancing the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of Surya Namaskar. By combining mantras with mindful practice, one can deepen the connection between the body, mind, and soul.

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https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/yoga/yoga-poses/sun-salutation