Visualise yourself standing on your yoga mat, facing the rising Sun, feeling the gentle warmth of the sun and seeing its dazzling glow as it begins its daily ascent through the horizon. At this early hour, theres a soulful stillness and quietude, the air is crisp, and there’s a dynamic energy that is palpable and which seems to seep into our very being, as we transition from one posture of the Surya Namaskar to the next, and feel our body awaken, our breath deepen and our mind clear.
Some of my students enrolled in Online Yoga Classes in New York have got the right idea. They have zeroed in on the terrace garden of their tall building, which has a clear view of the rising Sun, for their early morning practice. Here, it seems the benefits of Surya Namaskar transcend beyond the physical- paving a path for connecting with the Sun’s life-giving energy.
Morning Practice, Embracing the Sunrise
Clearly early dawn is the traditionally recommended time to practice Surya Namaskar. And rightly so. What better way to honour the mighty Sun, giver of heat and light energy, than at sunrise? As the first light breaks, our bodies are naturally inclined to wake up, and performing Surya Namaskar in the early hours helps synchronise our body’s internal clock with nature. The early morning atmosphere is charged with spiritual energy which helps stimulate the brain and energise the body for the day ahead.
In addition, doing Surya Namaskar in the morning can also be a great way to kickstart our metabolism because the postures increase our heart rate, work and stretch our muscles, and help us shake off the sluggishness of sleep.
Additionally Sun bathing is highly recommended by our ancestors as well as by all naturopaths and it’s only the early morning rays which are therapeutic. So Surya Namaskar at dawn makes perfect sense.
Afternoon Practice To Prepare For The Second Half Of The Day
If we miss the early morning practice, we can still catch it in the afternoon. The spiritual benefits may not be as potent but the health benefits of the exercise are still there. It is recommended to break our day, mid-day, with a nap or a power nap or a yoga Nidra session. Following that is a good time to do a series of rounds of the Sun Salutation to energise the body for the remaining work day.
Evening Practice To Wind Down
Depending on the nature of ones work, many people are very rushed both in the morning and afternoon evening being the only available time left for yoga practice. Not to worry the benefit of an evening practice is that the muscles are well warmed up and we can dive straight into our practice. Performing Surya Namaskar in the evening can help us unwind, releasing the day’s accumulated stress and tension. It’s an effective way to stretch our nerves and calm our nervous system, preparing both body and mind for a restful night’s sleep.
Conclusion
So, in conclusion, doing the Sun Salutation at different times of the day, each have their advantages. Whats important is to make it a part of our routine.
Why don’t you join me in a regular practice of the Surya Namaskar? Join me for a Live Online Yoga Session at Yoga with Sapna today!