Winter in the northeast brings shorter days and cold weather, there's no better time to do some sun salutes to get that good energy flowing. Surya Namaskara, as it's known in Sanskrit, is a great way to start your yoga practice or just your day. Sun salutes warm and open the whole body, bring you back to your breath, calm the mind and energize the soul. There are two types of Sun Salutes, A and B. Try one or both three to five times each. Each movement of this sequence is linked to either an inhale or an exhale so remember to breathe!

Sun Salute A

To start, stand in Tadasana or mountain pose. Close your eyes and start breathing deeply through your nose. Tuck your tailbone, grow tall through the crown of your head and ground through your whole foot, toes included. Stay here as long as you like or at least until your mind quiets and your attention is inward.

When you are ready, inhale your arms above your head.

As you exhale, dive forward with a flat back. Reach out with the crown of your head until you touch the floor even if your knees are bent, or use a block. Keep a slight bend in those knees and engage your thighs.

Inhale to a flat back then exhale as you step or jump back into plank and lower down to the mat. You may use your knees here if you like.  If you are jumping make sure it is controlled and you land softly.

Inhale into Up Dog then exhale and push back to Down Dog. Hold this for about 5 breaths.

On your next inhale, look up between your hands. As you exhale, either step or jump to your hands.  

Inhale to that flat back again. Exhale to fold forward towards the legs.

Your next inhale brings you to stand as your arms reach over head. Use that same flat back to get up like when you dove forward.  

Finally, exhale to lower the arms and begin again with an inhale and a reach.   

Yea Sun!

Sun Salute B incorporates a warrior I into the above steps.   

Namaste