Advantages of Surya Namaskar

Here’s a fact. Surya Namaskar is a holistic workout that can be your stepping stone towards ensuring mind-body wellness. The benefits of surya namaskar are not only limited to your physical health. In fact, this ancient practice can help improve your posture, foster mental clarity, strengthen your muscles, and do much more. Join us as we unveil the myriad advantages of sun salutation and experience the harmony of mind, body and spirit.

What is Surya Namaskar?

Surya namaskar, also referred to as sun salutation is a series of yoga poses that are performed in a harmonious flow to sync breath and movement. Offering prayers to the Sun has been seen as the ultimate source of life and energy in different cultures since ancient times. It consists of 12 different poses or steps that represent a specific moment in the sun’s journey. Read further to learn what are the different asanas performed in a sun salutation and the sun salutation benefits in detail.

10 Benefits of Surya Namaskar

Surya namaskar asana

Be it weight management, better flexibility, improved heart rate or skin health, there are various advantages of sun salutation that make it a holistic workout. Here are the 10 main benefits of surya namaskar you should know:

1. Helps Manage a Healthy Weight
2. Increases Flexibility
3. Prevents Hair Loss
4. Improves Blood Circulation
5. Makes Your Skin Glow
6. Provides Mental Clarity & Relaxation
7. Balances Hormones
8. Improves Respiratory Health
9. Helps in Detoxification
10. Raises the Heart Rate

    1. Helps Manage a Healthy Weight

    Since surya namaskar engages different muscles of the body and helps burn calories, it is an extremely effective exercise for managing a healthy weight. You can also harness the surya namaskar benefits for weight loss with regular practice and foster a healthier metabolism.

    2. Increases Flexibility

    Surya namaskar is an excellent way to foster better flexibility as it includes fluid motions that include stretching and strengthening your muscles. Moreover, regularly practising sun salutation can help increase joint mobility and help you get a more agile body.

    3. Improves Blood Circulation

    Another advantage of surya namaskar is that it promotes a rhythmic flow of breath that also enhances blood circulation. This is because it helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells while aiding waste removal.

    4. Prevents Hair Loss

    Since sun salutation helps improve blood circulation, it can help nourish your hair follicles and reduce hair loss. Thus, to revitalise your scalp and strengthen the hair strands, practising sun salutation every day can be extremely beneficial.

    5. Makes Your Skin Glow

    If you wish to get bright and glowing skin, start doing surya namaskar every day. Why? This is because this exercise induces a natural glow by promoting blood circulation and detoxification. So, start your day with surya namaskar and get healthy and radiant skin.

    6. Provides Mental Clarity & Relaxation

    Did you know surya namaskar is an exercise that promotes mind-body wellness? It not only has physical advantages but also reduces stress and promotes mental clarity. The combination of breathwork and physical movement enhances your overall well-being and induces a state of relaxation.

    7. Balances Hormones

    Sun salutation can also help balance your hormones and enhance your overall hormonal health. This is because the mindful synchronisation of breath and movement supports the endocrine function and contributes to a hormonal equilibrium.

    8. Improves Respiratory Health

    Since deep breathing is an important part of surya namaskar, it can help enhance lung capacity and contribute towards respiratory wellness. This is why surya namaskar benefits your respiratory system and promotes oxygenation.

    9. Helps in Detoxification

    The dynamic 12 poses of surya namaskar benefits the digestive system by encouraging the elimination of toxins from the body. In addition, surya namaskar also helps stimulate various organs to aid the detoxification process.

    10. Raises the Heart Rate

    Finally, another benefit of doing surya namaskar is that it raises the heart rate and provides a complete cardiovascular workout that helps strengthen the heart and create endurance. Start practicing surya namaskar every day and improve your heart health and overall fitness.

    What are the Different Poses in Surya Namaskar?

    Yoga asana (surya namaskar)

    Here are the 12 different asanas that are performed as part of the sun salutation. It is important to perform each pose perfectly to harness the surya namaskar benefits and live a healthier life.

    Step 1: Pranamasana (Prayer Pose)

    Step 2: Hasta Uttanasana (Raised Arms Pose)

    Step 3: Hasta Padasana (Hand to Foot Pose)

    Step 4: Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian Pose)

    Step 5: Dandasana (Stick Pose)

    Step 6: Ashtanga Namaskara (Salute with Eight Parts)

    Step 7: Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)

    Step 8: Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose)

    Step 9: Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian Pose - Repeat)

    Step 10: Hasta Padasana (Hand to Foot Pose - Repeat)

    Step 11: Hasta Uttanasana (Raised Arms Pose - Repeat)

    Step 12: Tadasana (Mountain Pose)

    Surya Namaskar Benefits for Ladies

    While there are a wide range of benefits of surya namaskar for everyone, it can have some specific advantages for women. The surya namaskar benefits for ladies include regulating the menstrual cycle as well as reducing the period pain and cramps. Thus, for women who struggle with imbalanced menstrual cycles and other hormonal issues, surya namaskar can be an excellent workout.

    The Takeaway

    Embark on a journey towards holistic wellness by performing the surya namaskar regularly and infuse positive energy into every cell of your being. Harness the surya namaskar benefits to continue on the path towards self-discovery and spiritual awakening. At Amala Earth, you can shop for yoga and wellness essentials that are sustainably made to connect you to the environment.

    FAQs on Benefits of Surya Namaskar

    What happens if we do Surya Namaskar daily?

    Daily practicing surya namaskar benefits the body and mind in numerous ways. For instance, it enhances your flexibility, improves posture, strengthens your muscles, boosts metabolism and increases your energy levels.

    What are the surya namaskar benefits for skin?

    Surya namaskar benefits for skin are due to the fact that it helps increase the blood flow and circulation in the body and increases the oxygen flow. Thus, you get glowing and more healthier-looking skin that ages slowly.

    What are the surya namaskar benefits for weight loss?

    Since sun salutation benefits the cardiovascular system by increasing the heart rate, it helps in fostering a better metabolism. Thus, doing this workout every day can help you maintain a healthy weight and elevate your physical health.

    What are the surya namaskar benefits for hair?

    Since sun salutation increases your blood circulation, it can also contribute to healthier hair growth. This is because the increased blood flow also ensures better nutrient delivery to the hair follicles, which reduces hair fall and other hair-related problems.