Suryanamaskar

॥ ॐ ध्येयः सदा सवित्र मण्डल मध्यवर्ती नारायण सरसिजा सनसन्नि विष्टः
केयूरवान मकरकुण्डलवान किरीटी हारी हिरण्मय वपुर धृतशंख चक्रः ॥

ॐ मित्राय नमः।
ॐ रवये नमः।
ॐ सूर्याय नमः।
ॐ भानवे नमः।

खगाय नमः।
ॐ पुषणे नमः।
ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः।
ॐ मरीचये नमः।
ॐ आदित्याय नमः।
ॐ सवित्रे नमः।

अर्काय नमः।
ॐ भास्कराय नमः।
ॐ श्रीसवित्रसूर्यनारायणाय नमः।

॥ आदित्यस्य नमस्कारन् ये कुर्वन्ति दिने दिने
आयुः प्रज्ञा बलम् वीर्यम् तेजस्तेशान् च जायते ॥

Surya namaskar or sun salutation, which includes twelve different forward and backward bends with proper inhale and exhale, benefits your body and mind in several ways. The various body movements’ stretch and exercises all the vital organs and parts of the body while the pranayama part of the Surya namaskar ensures the flow of fresh oxygen in your system and mind. As a result, your mind remains fresh and stress free. It is one of the holistic yoga exercises.

Benefits of Surya Namaskar:

Although going by the well-known yoga guides, there are many benefits of surya namaskar. In fact each pose in the surya namaskar benefits some or the other part of your body .Here are some of the benefits that you can get, while practicing surya namaskar daily, in proper way:

1) The various stretches in surya namaskar messages each muscle, strengthens the skeletal system by improving the basic posture of the body .It also helps in making the joints and ligaments stronger in order to carry the body weight without much effort.
2) It improves the entire endocrine system and regulates the functioning of endocrine glands. Once the secretion of endocrine glands such as thyroid gland, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands takes place in a proper way, it ensures that each organ of your body is working appropriately.
3) Surya Namaskar promotes blood circulation in the body and hence helps to maintain the cardiovascular system of the body.
4) If you are suffering from sleeplessness then, surya namaskar is the best medicine.
5) The combination of backward and forward movements also ensures that your digestive system is on track and helps in curing constipation and other digestion related ailments.
6) Apart from just the physical level, surya namaskar helps in keeping you stress free and rejuvenate your mind, because, it promotes the circulation of fresh oxygen to your brain.

How to Do Surya Namaskar Steps Mantras

Learn how to do Surya Namaskar, its advantages, Surya Namaskar mantras, and the step by step poses and position of the 12 postures of Sun Salutation. Surya Namaskar, which literally means ‘Salutation to The Sun God’, is a complete meditative technique and one of the popular forms of Hatha Yoga. Surya Namaskar includes Asanas, Pranayama, Mantras and Mudras and practicing this technique daily is beneficial for the health of the individuals. The Pranayama of Surya Namaskar helps for the flow of fresh oxygen into your body and mind and the various body movements stretch all the important organs of the body. Surya Namaskar includes the combination of 12 different postures with a specific breathing pattern which helps to strengthen and unblock the whole system.

How to do Surya Namaskar - Sun Salutation Steps & Postures

Morning is the right time to practice Surya Namaskar as the early morning sunrays are rich source of Vitamin D which is required for strong bones and clear eyesight. You can use a carpet or a small piece of cloth for doing this. There are twelve mantras for each of the twelve postures and these mantras are to be recited for each posture.

Following are the different postures in Surya Namaskar

First Posture – Namaskarasana

You should be in a standing position with palms folded in front of your chest, feet together and toes touching each other. Breathe as usual and recite the mantra.

Mantra - Om Mitrayah Namaha

Advantages - The mind and body turn out to be healthy

Second Posture – Parvatasana

Lift your arms over your head and shoulders, with palms touching each other. The biceps should touch the ears. Inhale and stretch your abdomen to the maximum extent and tilt backwards.

Mantra - Om Ravaye Namah

Advantages - A good exercise for the shoulders and the food pipe (Esophagus). Vision is also enhanced.

Third Posture - Namaskara Hastapadasana

Breathe in deeply and hold the breath. Bend forward without folding the knees and keep the palms on the floor. Touch your knees with the forehead and exhale deeply. Initially, if you are not able to keep the palms on the floor, you can just touch it with the fingers.

Mantra - Om Suryaya Namaha

Advantages - This exercise is a remedy for belly and digestive ailments. The chest and hands become strong and your body grows to be well balanced. Also, diseases of the feet and fingers are set right.

Fourth Posture - Ekapada Prasaranasana

Breathe in and drag your right leg backward, with the knee and fingers of the foot touching the floor. Press hard the abdomen and belly such that they touch the left leg. Now raise your head as high as possible and look upward. Hold breath and resume in the posture for sometime.

Mantra - Om Bhanave Namaha

Advantages - As this exercise stretches the small intestine and the seminal vesicles, it is a good remedy for constipation and diseases of the liver. Besides, thinness of the semen and diseases of throat are also corrected.

Fifth Posture - Bhudharasana

Breathe in deeply and hold it. Pull both the legs backwards and keep the thumbs of the feet, ankles and knees touching each other. Keep the head, waist, the back and the elbows in a line and bend forward with the palms on the floor. Your body looks like a bow now.

Mantra - Om Khagaya Namaha

Advantages - This movement helps to relieve from the pains - especially of arms, legs and the knees. It is also good for the abdominal disorders.

Sixth Posture - Ashthanga Pranipatasana

Inhale and hold the breath. Keep the knees on the floor and make the chest and forehead to touch the floor. The palms are to be placed on the side of the chest. Ensure that the abdomen should not touch the floor and drag it.

Mantra - Om Pusane Namaha

Advantages - This exercise makes the arms strong and if ladies perform this Asana before getting pregnant, the child could be prevented from many diseases.

Seventh Position – Bhujangasana

Inhaling the breath, lower your waist and raise your upper body. Now look upwards and keep the arms straight.

Mantra - Om Hiranya-Garbhaya Namaha

Surya Namaskar Eight Posture Bhudharasana

Advantages - Apart from toning up the body and the back muscles, this Asana improves eyesight. Disorders related to the reproductive system and the irregularities in female’s menstrual cycle are corrected. Also improves blood circulation.

Eighth Posture – Bhudharasana

This position is the same as that of Bhudharasana, explained in fifth position.