5 Reasons to Salute the Sun

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Surya Namaskar A or just a basic sun salutation has helped me get through many a difficult situation. Sometimes you need to get warmed up quickly, other times you need a little grounding. Here are the 5 reasons that I love sun salutations:

image from http://empowermentyoga.wordpress.com/

image from http://empowermentyoga.wordpress.com/

  1. You can do them pretty much anywhere--if you have a space the size of a yoga mat, you can do some quick or not-so-quick sun salutes. Traveling to a different continent? No problem! They can be done on the airplane (if you don't mind some funny looks). In a hotel room? In your bedroom? At the park? Sun salutations are always there for you. 
  2. They are relatively easy to remember. They only consist of a handful of different poses, so between your muscle memory and your super smart brain, they are generally pretty accessible. Remembering or wanting to remember a whole flow is sometimes not ideal, and sometimes you need a quick workout (busy day, traveling, stuck at the office, etc).
  3. They warm you up quickly. You are really moving a lot when you do a sun salutation. There is a reason that they have always been one of the first things to do when practicing yoga for thousands of years. They get your blood flowing and heart pumping, which is a great time to practice your breath and get you nice and limber to do all the other crazy and fun yoga poses you could ever want to do!  
  4. They are incredibly grounding. They bring your mind to your body through your breath. Sometimes sitting down for meditation is not in the cards (especially if you haven't moved much all day). The last thing we want sometimes is to go home and sit and focus after a long day of sitting at a desk. But one of the first things we want is a little peace of mind and tranquility, which focusing on sun salutations can bring you! They can be an alternative to meditating or maybe a pre-meditation practice--either way, they don't take long; they feel good, and...
  5. They are fun!

Why do you love sun salutations? Better yet, do you love them? Do you ever spice them up?