10 Benefits of Surya Namaskar
Surya means ‘Sun’ and Namaskar means ‘hello’. These two words mean Hello to the Sun. Maybe because the activity of Surya Namaskar is preferred to be done in the morning when the sun rises. The whole set of exercises benefits the human body best at that time. Surya Namaskar is a set of exercises or say Asana which stretches, and strengthens our body. It makes us disciplined and balanced.
Surya Namaskar consists of 12 different types of yoga asanas that help the body maintain a state of vibrancy, preparedness, and receptivity. The Sun has a healing quality and that’s why various religions have termed the sun as a god and worshipped it. Today medical science has also approved the benefits of sunlight and Surya Namaskar to our body, mind & soul. In this article, we’re going to discuss 10 benefits of Surya Namaskar.
Right Time for Surya Namaskar:
According to the traditions, the right time for Surya Namaskar is in the morning when the sun is about to rise from its long night’s sleep. You must have an empty stomach before you perform the exercise. Place a mat towards the sun and face east while performing the exercise. There are 12 asanas that you need to perform slowly with the right breathing technique.
According to tradition, the morning time is best for Surya Namaskar as at this time, our mind has less chaos inside and can process things better. Sunlight also gives you Vitamin D which is essential for the body and UV rays are also there that keep skin & bone issues away from us.
Although if you don’t have time in the morning, you can go whenever you like. The second most preferred time is in the evening when the Sun would be going down. Before performing the 12 asanas, make sure that you are empty stomach.
10 Benefits of Surya Namaskar:
The Indian ancient scriptures and various yoga teachers describe the benefits of Surya Namaskar as the following ten.
1. Helps in Better Blood Circulating:
Throughout the cycle of Surya Namaskar, the different asanas with the right inhaling and exhaling process oxygenate our body organs. The blood gets oxygen as well as the lungs too. As the oxygen goes to the organs and stays there for a longer time, it removes the toxins especially carbon-di-oxide from your body.
This indeed helps you be in a position of better health, an active mind & body, and a calm nature with no stress.
2. Improves the Digestive System in the Body:
By performing Surya Namaskar regularly, you let fresh air come inside your body. The oxygenation helps your body to circulate blood to the stomach-related tract. This indeed improves the working of the digestive organs hence making the digestive system more efficient.
The forward bend position helps expand space in your abdomen resulting in the release of gases from the body. It also helps in tackling constipation and other digestive challenges.
3. Beneficial in Weight Loss:
The Surya Namaskar exercises are designed in such a way that it strengthens your body muscles and burns your belly fat. Doing this daily makes your body flexible, endurable, and fast. If you don’t want to hit a gym, Surya Namaskar is a perfect set of exercises that would be a good company to adapt to in your weight loss journey.
In the whole set of exercises in Surya Namaskar, it is evident that the muscles of the body contract and expand; the exercises also burn the extra fat making your musculoskeletal body system stronger and with reflexes.
4. Help in Detoxification of Body:
Detoxification is one activity that many of us don’t follow. In our day-to-day life, we consume many things like food, air, and a whole lot of information regularly. Our mind, as well as our body, needs to be calm & remove all toxins in an interval.
Surya Namaskar helps our body to get oxygenated with its postures and right breathing techniques. The right breathing and exhalation process of the body detoxes the body by removing all toxins. Your organs get more oxygen and your lungs get ventilated properly giving a refresh to the whole body system.
5. Healthy Lower Body:
Our lower body means legs, lower legs, and our feet. The first and the last asana in the cycle of Surya Namaskar is the Pranamasana position or petition present. This position strengthens our lower body-legs, lower legs, and feet. This position also strengthens the hips and relieves sciatica. It also prevents the flat feet issue.
Not only the lower body but Surya Namaskar is evident to make a connection between the right & left hemispheres of the brain, resulting in it working more efficiently.
6. Glowing Skin & Healthy Hairs:
Surya Namaskar is a whole set of exercises that improves the blood circulation in our body, and also increases oxygen levels in the body. The better flow of blood and oxygen improves the skin glow and quality of hair for a long time.
Other than skin glow, it also helps prevent wrinkles on your body keeping the youth of the skin alive and more vibrant.
7. Helps in Strengthening Muscles and Joints:
Losing muscles and weakening of bones & joints are common phenomena of ageing. However, we see that physically active people face this very little in comparison to those who aren’t.
Surya Namaskar, the set of 12 different asana exercises involves the whole body in performing the cycle. If done on a repetitive and regular basis, it helps you to strengthen your muscles, joints, tendons, and bones giving them flexibility over time.
It also improves your spine’s adaptability. Your limbs become symmetrical through regularly practicing these poses, resulting in helping your organs work better.
8. Offers Calmness to Your Body:
Yoga is a very special segment of exercise. Unlike the gym hard exercises, it humbles your mind and offers calmness to it. The asana may feel tough in the beginning but soon it will relax your body. The Surya Namaskar poses such as downward dog and cobra asana strengthen the core of your muscles, stimulate the nervous system and relieve anxiety & stress on a mental level. The breathing during this exercise leaves your body and mind more controlled.
9. Activates The Heart:
According to Yoga beliefs, seven chakras are working as seven energy reservoirs in the body. While performing the Surya Namaskar Yoga, we power up these chakras to channel the energy upwards.
The prayer stance position where your hands are clasped together activates the heart chakra, responsible for better working of the heart and opening up the lotus heart.
10. Helpful in Managing Blood Pressure & Heart problems:
Heart problems and blood pressure walk in together. One brings second to the body. Doctors especially suggest being active physically which will give a balance in blood rotation in your body.
Surya Namaskar is a perfect exercise set for the natural treatment of blood pressure. It strengthens heart muscles, improving them for better-maintained heartbeats. The practice also lowers high blood sugar. Overall it is a perfect tool to keep away heart problems.
Conclusion:
In recent years, western countries have started adopting yoga for being fit and healthy for a longer time. Surya Namaskar(Sun Salutation) is the beginning of Yoga. If we are not in practice, we all must have heard about it.
Surya Namaskar gives a lot of benefits to the practitioner, offering a healthy life ahead. Above are some of those benefits that we have discussed. Now when the whole world is adapting to this, why should you be left behind? Start now and be a Yogi.
