Sun Salutations as an Alternative Fitness Method to Improve Health and Flexibility – Part 1
With the pandemic taking a toll on all aspects of our lives, the corporate world has undergone a huge transformation; from office work, board meetings, and interaction around the water cooler to working from home and isolation. This has made the prior regular office work routine now more erratic, hectic and energy-draining, leaving us with barely any time to unwind. Sparing an hour or two for exercises seems like an unfathomable challenge in the current situation.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, well, fret not! You don’t need to take out multiple hours from your schedule to stay fit. Sun Salutations only requires ten minutes out of your daily schedule. Maybe all you need to do is look beyond earth to help solve your problems. Towards the Sun, Perhaps?
The Sun has been considered a source of spirituality and vitality on the Earth since ancient times. Sun Salutations originated in India around 5500 years ago as a ritual prostration to the dawn. The Sun Salutations that landed on modern-day mats during the early 20th century as a form of physical workout were a detailed sequence of poses with focus on breathing phases.
Scientifically, the sun radiates energy (heat and light) to the earth, essential elements for sustenance of life on earth. Sun Salutations workouts have a range of effects on the human body that complement the direct energy provided by the Sun itself.
Firstly, it ingrains discipline. Despite the current prevailing unpredictability, it helps you achieve greater stability in life. Secondly, it’s a full body workout. It helps to burn off calories and assist in weight loss, it also helps in improving flexibility and strength in various muscle groups. In addition to these benefits it also improves metabolism and blood circulation.
Sun Salutations consists of 7 poses (asanas) that are performed in a cyclic order creating 12 poses in total.
Benefits of Sun Salutations:
- Improves flexibility
- Helps relax mind
- Helps build mental focus
- Helps burn excess fat
- Improves blood circulation
- Improves functions of internal organs
- Improves muscle tone
- Improves posture
- Helps cope with insomnia
- Strengthens the body
Sun Salutations workout has both meditative and physiological benefits. Physical exercise also has some psychological benefits and has a significant impact on memory retention, anxiety and helps battle insomnia. Sparing merely 10 minutes out of your daily schedule for these workouts can have dramatic effects in various aspects of your life.
“Sun Salutations Can Energize and Warm You, Even on the Darkest, Coldest Winter Day” – Carrol Krucoff
Next week in part 2, I will be illustrating different poses (asanas) and their various effects on different systems of the body.
