Sun Salutation – A 360-Degree Approach to Perfect Physical and Mental Health
When it comes to maintaining a perfect hourglass body shape and losing weight, people often turn their ways to the gym and pick up some high calorie burning exercises. We agree that it’s the right way but there is another way which can help you burn calories, melt your stubborn belly fat and the ladies who have newly stepped into motherhood, can easily gain back their pre-pregnancy body shape; the mantra is Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskar.
Sun Salutation has been recognized as a power technique to lose weight and not to miss – a simple one. It is an ancient and powerful technique and has been practiced for centuries now. As per the belief of many experts, Surya Namaskar boosts metabolism and helps in building lean muscles. It won’t be wrong to claim that Surya Namaskar stands unrivalled as far as the effect is concerned.
Surya Namaskar – A Perfect Solution for Workout for Those who Feel Time Crunch
This ancient Yoga pose consists of 12 postures in Surya Namaskar or asanas. This is especially helpful for those who don’t have much time and are always in a hurry but want a quick result. It is advisable that you perform this exercise during early morning hours at a fast pace as it will provide a good piece of cardiovascular workout. If you intend to do this at a slow pace, it helps in toning muscles and is relaxing.
Although it’s a complete exercise in itself, yet it works as a perfect line between warm-ups and intense workouts.
Why is Sun Salutation good for you?
Sun salutation is not only restricted to losing weight, it also has a great impact on the liver, heart, intestines, stomach, legs, and throat. It helps in purifying blood, improvise blood circulation and ensure proper functioning of stomach. It has been observed that Practicing Surya Namaskar every day can help in balancing – Vata, Pitta and Kapha which are important constitutions of our body.
Did you know this about Surya Namaskar?
Surya Namaskar – 288 yoga postures in 12 minutes, surprised, don’t be. We will explain this to you
One round of Surya Namaskar comprises of 12 different postures. In one set, you should do 2 rounds of Surya Namaskar, first from the right side of your body and second from the left side. You should do 12 rounds of Surya Namaskar every day so the calculation becomes –12 rounds *2 (right and left)*12 yoga poses in each round = 288. An average weighing person can burn up to 13.90 Calories by performing this.
Different Asanas of Surya Namaskar
Surya Namaskar comprises of 12 different poses which are as follows:
Pranamasana or the Prayer Pose
This pose is similar to what you do while praying, you need to stand on the mat with your feet together, expand your chest and keep your shoulders relaxed. While breathing in, lift your arms up and while you exhale, bring your palms down in front of your chest back in the prayer position.
Hasta Uttanasana or the Raised Arms Pose
Inhale and lift your arms up and move them back, make sure that your biceps are close to your ears.
Hasta Padasana or The Hand to Foot Pose
Breathe out and bend forward from the waist but you need to make sure that your spine is erect and as you exhale, bring the hands down to the floor beside your feet.
Ashwa Sanchalanasana or the Equestrian Pose
Again breathe in and take your right leg back, stretch it as far as possible. Then bring your right knee forward and look up.
Dandasana or the Stick pose
While breathing, take your left leg back and keep your body in a straight line.
Ashtanga Namaskara or the Salute with Eight Parts
Bring your knees down to the floor and exhale. Push your hips a few inches above the ground and rest your chest and chin on the floor. Overall, you need to keep both your feet and knees straight, and the chest and chin touching the floor.
Bhujangasana or the Cobra pose
To come in this pose, you need to slide forward and raise your chest up in the cobra pose. Make sure that your elbows are bent and shoulders are away from the ears.
Parvatasana or the Mountain pose
While breathing out, you need to lift your hips up with chest facing downwards, forming an inverted V shape.
Tadasana
Again breathe out, keep straight, bring your arms down and keep your body relaxed.
We hope that you will indulge yourself in practising Surya Namaskar and reap positive benefits out of it. The best time to practice this is early in the morning, moreover, while the sun is rising, the benefits grow manifold.
