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Yoga Posture - Surya
Namaskar, The Sun Salutation:
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1.Stand
erect, close your eyes and breathe naturally as you
reflect on your relationship with the Sun.Acknowledge
your own inner strength, while at the same time humbling
yourself before the power of the Sun.
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2.Inhale,
and allowing your body to gracefully express the feelings
in your heart, open your eyes and extend your arms out
and up until they are next to your ears. Keeping your
legs straight and your head between your arms, gently
arch the spine and bend backward, opening the chest.
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3.
Without
pausing, slowly begin to exhale and bend forward from
the hips, keeping your back straight and your arms next
to the ears. (If your lower back is weak, bend your
knees slightly.) Lower your arms and place your palms
firmly on the ground, shoulder width apart in line with
your feet, keeping your knees as straight as you comfortably
can.Bring your head toward your knees, resting your
gaze on the knees or - if you feel steady in this position
- close your eyes. Throughout this movement, allow the
weight of your body to be evenly distributed between
the front, back, and sides of the feet.
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4.
Slowly inhale, bend the right leg and stretch
the left leg straight back. Keeping your hands firmly
on the ground, stretch up with the head, neck and chest,
arching the back and gazing upward.
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5.
As you begin to exhale, curl the toes of the left foot
and stretch the right foot back, placing it next to
the left. You are facing the floor with you arms straight
and your head, shoulders, hips, the back of your knees
and heels in alignment. Hold your body briefly in this
inclined-plane position.
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6.Lower
your knees to the ground, followed by your chest. Tuck
the chin and lower your forehead to the ground, keeping
only your hips elevated. Take care to place your chest
directly between your hands so that the hips can be
lowered into the proper position without shifting other
parts of your body. Keep your elbows close to your body.
Then, lower your hips and stretch your feet back so
that your body is resting flat on the ground.
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7.Inhale
slowly and begin to lift the head, then raise the shoulders
and chest, coming into the cobra pose. Gaze upward and
bend back as far as you can comfortably, rolling your
shoulders back and down, and keeping your pelvis on
the floor.
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8.
Exhale, and without interrupting the flow of movement,
lift your hips and bring your body into a peak position.
Shift your weight from the toes to the heels, and try
to press your heels toward the floor. Relax your neck
and let your head hang naturally. Allow your eyes to
close. Feel the stretch in the feet and back of the
legs, as well as in the upper arms and shoulders.
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9.
Inhale, bring the
left leg under the torso, and place the foot between
your hands. Stretch up again, extending your head and
upper torso toward the sky. Arch back and gaze upward.
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10.
Exhale and bring the right foot up next to the left
and straighten your legs, placing your body in a forward
bend. Bend your knees as necessary to protect your lower
back or to touch the floor. Once again, check to see
that the weight of your body is evenly distributed between
the front, back, and sides of the feet. Your head, neck,
and shoulders should be relaxed toward the knees. Allow
your gaze to rest on the knees or, if your balance is
steady, close your eyes.
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11..
Finally,
inhale and slowly raise your torso, stretching your
arms out, up, and back. Keep your back as straight as
possible as you slowly lift the head and torso. Upon
reaching an upright position, bend back as far as you
can without straining, remembering to keep your arms
close to your ears and your legs straight.
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12.
Exhale and slowly lower your arms, bringing your palms
together at your chest. Close your eyes and experience
a final balanced moment of stillness. Repeat this sequence,
this time stepping back with the right foot instead
of the left, in position 4, and continue to alternate
with each repetition.
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