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Classical sun salutation sequence1/17/2024 ![]() ![]() In addition to experiencing so much strength, power, lightness, agility, mobility and FUN both on and off the mat, my hope is that modern-day practitioners also remember to pay homage to the ancient lineage that has gotten us to where we are today.Before we explore the Sun Salutations, I would like to focus on the benefits of Yoga. ![]() By adding playful and creative movements to the strict set sequences that require so much forward bending and back bending, modern Vinyasa Flow practitioners twist, bend, thread, weave, cascade and flip their way into whole body integration! Modern day Vinyasa Flow practitioners know this fact very well and continuously find new ways to explore all three planes. Whole body integrationĭue to the fact that Classical Sun Salutations really only work the practitioner’s body in the sagittal plane of flexion and extension it is imperative to add asanas that work in the coronal plane of adduction and abduction as well as ones that work in the transverse plane of rotation. Especially the ones with Anjaneyasana, a pose of devotion named after the little boy Anjaneeya (later Hanuman) who so loved the sun because he thought it was a giant version of his favorite fruit – a juicy sweet mango! This gratitude, which may begin as simply for the sun itself, always transforms into gratitude for so much more. On a spiritual level Classical Sun Salutations infuse the practitioner with so much love, adoration and gratitude. Psychologically, Classical Sun Salutations (when done exactly the same for 6-12 or more repetitions) quiet the chatter of the mind by lulling it with repetitive movements infused with breath. On a physiological level Classical Sun Salutations, with so many forward bends and backbends (remember the initial intention of bowing in reverence and adoration) stretch the front and back of the body efficiently and effectively. The superb intelligence of the classical Surya Namaskars is that inhales inspire upward movements and exhales inspire downward movements this is the natural way that Prana (life force energy) moves the body. Each asana (posture) is initiated by either an in-breath or an out-breath. The immense benefits that the creators of classical set sequences have passed onto modern-day practitioners are as awe-inspiring to me as the sun itself. There is such a simple and precious perfection to the classical sequences, especially when we realize the original intention of gratitude that inspired them. I am one of the many yoga teachers/practitioners that believe in learning classical Surya Namaskars and then adding to/building upon them. Most teachers have learned these ‘classical’ set sequences of our Indian forefathers (Tirumalai Krishnamacharya and his student Pattabhi Jois, Swami Sivananda, Swami Kripalvananda and Shiv Fatal Singh to name a few) And then they’ve moved forward to break those rules (hopefully with complete awareness and intelligence). What began as simple prostrations to the sun evolved into various set sequences, Classical Sun Salutations, each with their own strict rules of conduct. Learning the rules and then breaking them As yogis began to cultivate the classical set sequences, 12 mantras were added to the established breath-infused asanas, in order to inspire 12 aspects of the sun into the daily life of the practitioner. Traditionally performed in the direction of the rising sun, classical Surya Namaskar is a set of 12 exercises honoring the 12 aspects of the sun from dawn to dusk. ![]() This stepping back on the right, and then on the left (or whatever hip flexor was tight that morning) inspired a myriad of ways to honor the light of the sun without and the symbolic light of the sun within. Then one day (as I like to ‘storytell’ my students!) a yogi felt the need to stretch a hip flexor while performing his or her simple morning sun prostrations. It is safe to assume that we humans have been performing this heartfelt act of gratitude since ancient, pre-verbal times. This simple act of bowing in adoration to the sun is one that crosses boundaries of sex, color, nationality, religious and sexual preferences. ![]() The second physical (and symbolic) thing we do is exhale and fold, as if to draw the many benefits of the sun into ourselves and down into the Earth herself. On the mat after centering on our breath in Samasthiti, we reach up to the sun on an in-breath for our first pose of the Sun Salutation. All things living on this earth reach out for the sun and its life-giving, life-nurturing powers. The visceral feeling of stepping out into the morning sun, hands outstretched upwards to feel the warmth of the sun’s energy, is a feeling that is timeless, priceless and known by more than just humankind. In both ancient and modern times humans have been in awe of the massive bright ball of light in the sky. ![]()
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