Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskara in Sanskrit)

Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskara in Sanskrit) are the core of a Vinyasa style yoga practice. A sun salutation is a series of poses done in succession so that one pose flows into the next. The pace of the flow and how long the poses are held may vary, but the movement is done in accompaniment with the breath. The purpose of the Sun Salutation is to warm up the body for more intense stretches.

First, a basic Sun Salutation sequence for beginners.

1. Come to stand in Tadasana

2. Inhale – Bring the arms out to the sides and up to Urdhva Hastasana

3. Exhale – Swan dive down hinging at the hips bringing the palms flat on either side of your feet to Uttanasana*

4. Inhale – Come up to a flat back bringing the chin up and the finger tips to the floor

5. Exhale – Bring the palms flat, forward bending again into Uttanasana

6. Inhale – Bring the right foot to the back of the mat, come up on to the finger tips into a low lunge

7. Exhale – Bring the left foot back to meet the right coming into Downward Facing Dog

8. Inhale – Come forward to a Plank position

9. Exhale – Drop to your Knees, Chest, and Chin

10. Inhale – Come forward to a low Cobra

11. Exhale – Back to Downward Facing Dog

12. Inhale – Bring the right foot next to the right hand into low lunge*

13. Exhale – Bring the left foot forward next to the right and forward bend into Uttanasana

14. Inhale – Bring the arms out to the sides and up, reversing the swan dive to Urdhva Hastasana

15. Exhale – Drop the arms back to Tadasana

Repeat on the left side.

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