I still remember my school days when we students assemble in neatly aligned rows and columns in the big ground on our yoga mats every morning before our classes start. Our Yoga teacher will lead us and we all follow him doing 12 sets of Sun Salutation, also called Surya Namaskar, every day.

Yes, we followed that routine every day and it has now turned a habit for most of us. But, you may ask – why Sun Salutation?

We all know that the SUN is the ultimate source of life on earth. One can blindly accept that No lifeform can exist without the sun. Hence, Yogis started their day with Sun Salutation to grace the Sun God.

We students also started the day by honoring Lord Surya through Sun Salutation.

Here is everything about this basic yet powerful yoga routine in complete details to help you practice it perfectly.

SUN SALUTATION

SUN SALUTATION

Surya means ‘Sun’ and Namaskar means ‘offering of respect’ in Sanskrit. Hence, Surya Namaskar by itself means offering respect to the Sun.

Sun Salutation falls under Pranayama Yoga. Prayanama Yoga refers to the yoga techniques of controlling the breath.

Hence, like all other Pranayama Yoga, Sun Salutation must be done silently and at the same time very slowly.

When you perform 12 sets of Sun Salutation as the Sun god rises in the morning and let the sun rays fall on you, you get good health. Let me get to the health benefits of Sun Salutation later in this article.

We shall now see how to prepare for Sun Salutation.

BEFORE STARTING OFF WITH SUN SALUTATION

There are few things that we must follow before going out and practicing Surya Namaskar.

#1 Practice During Sunrise or Sunset

Surya Namaskar must be done early in the morning during the sunrise to reap the full benefits from the Sun’s vibrations.

Some might ask if it can be done in the evening times. The answer is YES. But it must be done before the sunset.

However, If you are doing it after the sunset as the moon rises, it becomes CHANDRA NAMASKAR or Moon Salutation. There isn’t much of a difference except two extra asanas for Moon Salutation.

#2 Practice Sun Salutation On An Empty Stomach

This is pretty important.

You must always make sure that you practice Sun Salutation on an empty stomach.

It is because Sun Salutation incorporates Asanas that will work on your stomach. This may lead to stomach upsets if you do it with food.

Therefore, make sure you have a 2 hours limit between having food and performing Sun Salutation.

#3 Never Stress On Perfection Immediately

Though there are norms of perfection for each individual Sun Salutation poses, you can do it as your body accepts it.

Never overstretch as a beginner. Do the Asanas without putting pressure on your body parts.

With practice, you are going to master it. After all, Practice makes a man perfect, Right?

#4 Practice Sun Salutation In A Well-Ventilated Environment

The best place to practice Sun Salutation is any place outdoors.

You get the maximum benefits of Sun Salutation as the light rays from the sun fall on your body as you perform the routine.

If you are going to practice this indoors, make sure you are in a perfectly ventilated room.

Again, I would like to stress here that doing Sun Salutation in a completely open atmosphere will help you reap maximum benefits. You will feel the difference the very first day itself.

#5 Practice 12 Sets Of Sun Salutation Everyday

Every set of Sun Salutation consists of 2 rounds – one on the right leg and another on the left leg.

A good Sun Salutation routine would mean 12 sets of it. Hence, This refers to performing 12 rounds of Sun Salutation on the right leg and another 12 rounds on your left leg.

However, if you are just a beginner, start off with at least 2-4 sets every day. As you get good at it and your body adapts to the routine, complete 12 sets every day.

Follow the 12 sets of Sun Salutation, increase it gradually and one day you will hit the yogis mark of 108 sets.

SUN SALUTATION MANTRA

Sun Salutation comprises 12 Mantras for every posture in it.

Some chant the mantras at the beginning of each round while some chant it with each pose.

However, anything is fine. The former method is the best for beginners and we, during school days, followed it.

The latter method becomes tricky because chanting the mantra in sync with the breathing at every step seems to be tricky at the beginning. You can chant the mantra within your heart to make breathing easier.

You are welcome to follow any of the methods, but the second method (chanting mantra at every pose) is the correct way.

Here are the 12 mantras of Sun Salutation.

SUN SALUTATION MANTRA

	MANTRA (In Tamil)	MANTRA (In English)	BREATHING
1.	ஓம் மைத்திராய நம:	Om Mitraya Namaha	Namaskaar Posture
2.	ஓம் ரவாய நம:	Om Ravaye Namaha	Inhale
3.	ஓம் சூரியாய நம:	Om Suriyaya Namaha	Exhale
4.	ஓம் பானவே நம:	Om Bhanave Namaha	Inhale
5.	ஓம் காஹாய நம:	Om Khagaya Namaha	Exhale
6.	ஓம் புஷனீ நம:	Om Pushne Namaha	Hold
7.	ஓம் இரண்யா கெர்பாய நம:	Om Iranya Kerbhaya Namaha	Inhale
8.	ஓம் மரிச்சாய நம:	Om Marichaye Namaha	Exhale
9.	ஓம் சாவித்திரி நம:	Om Savitiri Namaha	Inhale
10.	ஓம் ஆர்காய நம:	Om Arkaya Namaha	Exhale
11.	ஓம் ஆதித்யாய நம:	Om Adityaya Namaha	Inhale
12.	ஓம் பாஸ்கராய நம:	Om Bhaskaraya Namaha	Exhale

If you find any difficulty in chanting the mantra, write to me in the comment section below and I will help you out.

MEANING OF SUN SALUTATION MANTRA

	MANTRA	MEANING
1.	Om Mitraya Namaha	Salutation to the one who is a friend of everyone
2.	Om Ravaye Namaha	Salutation to the shining one
3.	Om Suriyaya Namaha	Salutation to the one who induces activity
4.	Om Bhanave Namaha	Salutation to the one whose brightness illuminates the earth
5.	Om Khagaya Namaha	Salutation to the one who moves in the sky
6.	Om Pushne Namaha	Salutation to the one who gives strength
7.	Om Iranya Kerbhaya Namaha	Salutation to the Golden womb from which everything else emerged
8.	Om Marichaye Namaha	Salutation to the Lord of the Dawn
9.	Om Savitiri Namaha	Salutation to the mother of creation
10.	Om Arkaya Namaha	Salutation to the one who deserves worship
11.	Om Adityaya Namaha	Salutation to the son of Aditi, the cosmic mother
12.	Om Bhaskaraya Namaha	Salutation to the one who brightens both the internal and external world

Chanting these mantras as you perform the Sun Salutation poses helps your body in attracting the Sun’s vibration. These vibrations along with the individual asana’s benefits offer you a lot of health advantage which I will cover later.

Now as we prepared ourselves for performing Sun Salutation and we have the Mantras in hand, Let’s jump to the interesting section of the article – How to do Sun Salutation.

ALSO READ: Best 7 Exercises To Reduce Thigh Fat To Make It Slim And Firm

HOW TO DO SUN SALUTATION

As said, Sun Salutation includes 12 Yoga asanas.

Let’s go through those step-by-step, one at a time.

#1 PRANAMASANA | THE PRAYER POSE

Sun Salutation starts with The Prayer Pose or Pranamasana. It is similar to the Indian way of greeting people.

Here is how you do Pranamasana.

• Stand on the edge of your Yoga mat and look straight.
• Place your feet together. Balance your whole body-weight equally on both the feet and relax your shoulders.
• As you feel the shoulders are relaxed, breathe in and lift your both arms above your head slowly.
• Now, bring the arms to the prayer position between your chest as you breathe out.

Stay in this position and chant the mantra – Om Mitraya Namaha.

BENEFITS OF PRANAMASANA

• Pranamasana offers you a sense of relaxation
• It builds up concentration

#2 HASTA UTTANASANA | THE RAISED ARMS POSE

The next asana is termed as Hasta Uttanasana.

To do this pose,

• Start inhaling slowly as you chant the mantra – Om Ravaye Namaha.
• As you breathe in lift your arms up and back.
  • Make sure your biceps are close to your ears.
• Now, bend your body backward as much as you can.

We used to do this posture in school with both hands parallel to each other.

However, the correct way of doing this is by stretching your body back with palms still stuck together.

BENEFITS OF HASTA UTTANASANA

• Hasta Uttanasana helps you in improving flexibility.
• The Asana also helps in digestion.
• As you tend to stretch backward as much as you can, it stretches and tones abdomen muscles.
• Hasta Uttanasana expands your chest and rib cage, thereby, improving the intake of oxygen. This helps in the full use of your lung capacity.

#3 HASTA PADASANA | THE HAND TO FOOT POSE

The third asana of Sun Salutation is called Hasta Padasana (also called Pada Hastasana).

Follow the steps to complete this Asana.

• While exhaling slowly chanting the mantra – Om Suriyaya Namaha, bend forward from the waist.
• As a beginner, bend as much as you can and try to touch the feet with your hands.

Remember, the legs should be straight during this sequence.

As you practice, deepen this posture by trying to place your palms on the ground while bending. Also, try to touch your legs with the forehead. This sums the completion of this asana perfectly.

BENEFITS OF HASTA PADASANA

• Hasta Padasana is a good posture to reduce belly fat.
• It also increases flexibility.
• The Asana stretches your back muscles and back of your legs’ muscles.
• Hasta Padhasana improves digestion and eliminates constipation.
• In fact, it decreases the occurrence of many stomach related issues.
• Hasta Padhasana also helps in keeping your spine erect by toning the nerves there.

#4 ASHWA SANCHALANASANA | THE EQUESTRIAN POSE

The next pose is called Ashwa Sanchalanasana. It’s called the Equestrian Pose.

Follow the below steps to complete this Asana.

• As you inhale, take your left leg backwards and stretch it as much as you can.
• Bend your right knee with your palms still flat on the ground.
• Arch your back now. Tilt your head backwards and see straight ahead.

As you perform this Asana, chant the mantra – Om Bhanave Namaha.

BENEFITS OF ASHWA SANCHALANASANA

• Ashwa Sanchalanasana also helps your abdominal organs.
• It also aids in nerve balance.
• The Asana increases the flexibility of legs as you stretch them during the sequence.

#5 PARVATASANA | THE MOUNTAIN POSE

Ashwa Sanchalanasana is immediately followed by the Mountain Pose or Parvatasana.

To do it,

• While exhaling and chanting the mantra – Om Khagaya Namaha, take your right leg back and place it in position with your left leg.
• Now, raise your buttocks and keep your head between your hands.

If noted, this asana resembles the mountain from sidewards.

In order to deepen the effect of this pose, you could tilt your head more inwards.

BENEFITS OF PARVATASANA

• Parvatasana improves the blood circulation in your spinal region and brain.
• As your body weight during this Asana is distributed equally on your legs and hands, it increases the strength of legs and hands.

#6 ASHTANGA NAMASKARA | THE EIGHT-LIMBED SALUTATION

The Ashtanga Namaskara requires you to hold your breath while performing the sequence.

Here is how to do it.

• As you hold your breath bring your body forward.
• Let it touch the ground at 8 points – 2 Feet, 2 Knees, 2 Hands, Chest, and Chin.
• Chant the mantra – Om Pushne Namaha.

NOTE: Make sure your hands are in line with the shoulders.

BENEFITS OF ASHTANGA NAMASKARA

• Ashtanga Namaskara strengthens your hands, legs, and chest together.

#7 BHUJANGASANA | THE COBRA POSE

Bhujangasana is one of my favorite poses of Sun Salutation.

This is how you do it.

• Inhale and raise your body with the help of your hands while chanting the mantra – Om Iranya Kerbhaya Namaha.
• Tilt your head backwards and see straight up.

You will find that this pose would look like a cobra raising its hood and hence called The Cobra Pose.

BENEFITS OF BHUJANGASANA

• Bhujangasana is a great posture to strengthen your lower back.
• The Asana stretches your spine and muscles surrounding it perfectly.
• It is good for lower abdomen, digestive organs, urinary organs and reproductive organs in women.
• It tones your butt muscles.
• Most importantly, if you are a woman with menstrual abnormalities, master Bhujangasana perfectly. It will help you with it.

#8 PARVATASANA | THE MOUNTAIN POSE

Yes, it is the same 5th pose again.

So, this is how you complete it.

• Exhale and lift your buttocks to its peak.
• This time you must chant the mantra – Om Marichaye Namaha.

#9 ASHWA SANCHALANASANA | THE EQUESTRIAN POSE

This is same as the step 4 but with the different leg.

Follow the steps as mentioned below.

• Start inhaling and chant the mantra – Om Savitiri Namaha.
• As you chant the mantra, fold your left leg while the right leg is stretched to its maximum.
• Arch your back and tilt your head.

#10 HASTA PADASANA | THE HAND TO FOOT POSE

This posture is exactly the same as step 3.

Here is how we completed the Asana in that step, follow the same procedure.

• Bring your right leg forward in line with your left leg.
• Chant the mantra – Om Arkaya Namaha.
• Bend as much as you can and touch the ground with your fingers.

Again, with practice, the efficiency of doing this Asana will improve.

Placing your palms on the ground, touching your legs with your head and doing all this with the legs not bent is just days away.

#11 HASTA UTTANASANA | THE RAISED ARMS POSE

Yes, you must have got it right. This is exactly the same as the step 2.

Do it as follows.

• Start inhaling by chanting the mantra – Om Adityaya Namaha.
• Lift your arms up with palms stuck to each other in prayer position.
• Bend your body backward as much as possible.

With practice, you will see that you are able to bend more backward every time.

#12 PRANAMASANA | THE PRAYER POSE

Now we end one round of Sun Salutation with the step 1.

From Hasta Uttanasana posture come back to Pranamasana steadily as you exhale. Chant the mantra – Om Bhaskaraya Namaha as you perform the sequence.

As you complete the 12 steps, you have completed the first round of the first step. You can continue the second round from here.

In the second round, you just need to change legs in your Step 4 and Step 9 both of which are Ashwa Sanchalanasana.

When you reach the step 4, instead of stretching back the left leg, stretch your right leg backwards. Likewise, in step 9, instead of stretching back your right leg, stretch your left leg backwards and complete the round. Simple, Right?

With this, you have completed 1 set of Sun Salutation perfectly. Woohoo, High Five!

If you are a beginner start with 2 sets, increase the set count by 2 every 3 days and you will be doing 12 sets of Sun Salutation every day in no time.

WHAT AFTER SUN SALUTATION

So, you completed your goal quota of Sun Salutation sets like a pro yogi.

You feel perfectly activated similar to a chemical reaction that speeds up after adding a catalyst.

We went through one more step during our school days and I too think it’s the best one. We performed Shavasana, also called The Corpse Pose, for 15 minutes.

Don’t get misled with the English name of the asana. But you will see how this further enhances the effect of Sun Salutation.

This is how you perform this posture.

• Lie flat on the ground on your yoga mat.
• Keep both your arms slightly away from each other with your palms facing upwards.
• So as the legs, keep it slightly away from each other.
• Turn your head to the left side.

Now, having yourself set in the perfect posture, lose the sense of your body parts. Feel as if you are floating in the air.

To say in very simpler terms, just forget that you own a body for your soul for the next 15 minutes.

That is all, practice it every day and YOU WILL FEEL THE DIFFERENCE!

BENEFITS OF SUN SALUTATION

Sun Salutation is a very simple routine as you have seen. But it incorporates powerful asanas which together offers you immense health benefits.

Here are the various health benefits of Sun Salutation.

TONING AND LOOSENING UP MUSCLES AND JOINTS

Sun Salutation postures involve stretching muscles and joints.

This helps in toning and loosening up muscles and joints in various parts of your body.

In particular, the abdominal region as a whole, legs, hands, shoulders, spine, and stomach region are highly benefitted.

REDUCES BODY DISORDERS

Sun Salutation keeps a check of the respiratory, Circulatory, reproductive and endocrine system.

If you are a woman and still not practicing Sun Salutation, I would highly recommend you to start with it now. It is going to give you a whole lot of positive experience.

SUN SALUTATION FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Here we are, the main issue of the current and so-called modern generation – Obesity or excessive body weight.

Sun Salutation can help you with weight loss. I will cover this alone in a single separate post, so that, you can reap maximum benefits out of this very simple routine.

OTHER BENEFITS

• Sun Salutation can help you overcome hair loss as it increases blood circulation to your head.
• One important benefit of Sun Salutation is that it activates the Surya Nadi which is one of the main channels of energy in the body.
• You will feel a better YOU as Surya Namaskar eliminates laziness.
• It keeps your mind alert at all times.
• As a personal experience, I must say, Sun Salutation coupled with meditation helps you reduce frequent burst of anger.

WHO SHOULD REFRAIN FROM DOING SUN SALUTATION?

Though Sun Salutation is easier to perform, as it involves stretching and bending, some must refrain from doing it.

If you are someone with a hip injury, knee injury or a spine injury, either take caution while doing Sun Salutation or kindly stay away from it. Injury as here refers to a small ailment to a major surgery.

Coming to the most frequently asked question, CAN PREGNANT WOMEN PRACTICE SUN SALUTATION?

The answer is YES!!!! PREGNANT YOGIS CAN PRACTICE SUN SALUTATION. It is incredibly good, particularly, for pregnant women who carry an extra soul.

However, avoid putting extra pressure on your stomach. Do it as if you are a very new beginner.

To keep it much more simple, I will cover a modified version of Sun Salutation for Pregnant yogis in a separate article very soon.

So, I think I have covered everything about Sun Salutation in detail and this should pitch start your Yogic life perfectly.

If you found this post helpful, write a comment as to how it helped you personally. I would be very happy to know about it.

Let the Sun God shower blessings on every one of us!

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