What are Sun Salutations?

Surya Namaskara ​

Sun Salutations are also known as Surya Namaskara in Sanskrit.

Sun Salutations is a traditional yogic warm up that is supposed to be a form of prayer to the sun. The sun is believed to be the source of health and vigor, and this warm up moves every joint and major muscle groups in the body.

​Every morning the air is filled with prana shakti, or life energy. You practice yoga facing east when the first rays of the morning sun begin to shine.  When you move your body through the poses, breath, and chant mantras, you will feel an incredible effect on the mind, body and spirit.
 
This fun approach to moving your body and flowing from one pose to another looks and feels like a dance or performance art– especially when you add music!

The Yoga Practice as Performance Art

The Sun Salutation Poses:

​1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
2. Upward Salute (Urdhva Hastasana)
3. Standing Forward Fold (Uttanasana)
4. Half Standing Forward Fold (Ardha Uttanasana)
5. Plank Pose (Chaturanga Dandasana)
6. Upward-facing Dog Pose (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana)
7. Downward-facing Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
8. Transition – feet to hands
9. Half Standing Forward Fold
10. Standing Forward Fold
11. Upward Salute
12. Mountain Pose

Watch this video as an entire class while you perform Sun Salutations.  Replay the video in your smaller groups whenever you want to perform the Sun Salutations or refresh your memory of the routine. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVc_EN0lbwo