Significance and Importance of Suryanamaskara
Suryanamaskara is one of my favorite yogasana practices. When I feel too lethargic to do the complete yoga practice or when I find the lack of time to do complete practice, I usually do few rounds of Suryanamaskaras which leaves me with good energy for the whole day.
A number of fables are spun around the origin of the Suryanamaskara. One of the famous stories is about Lord Anjaneya or Hanumantha (Hanuman). When Anjaneya was a kid, he thought that the morning sun was a delicious mango and leapt to eat the sun. Given the strength and bravery he had, he ended up going near the sun — only to be fended off by Vajrayudha, weapon of Lord Indra which broke his jaw. It gave him name as hanumantha: the one with broken jaw. However, gods were amazed by his bravery and bestowed him with many laurels.
Upon growing up, Hanuman went to the sun requesting him to learn from him all scriptures, world experiences and education. The sun was very busy and had no time to teach as he had to be moving all the time for his work. However, little hanuman was not the one to give up, he was ready to move along with the sun and learn at the same time. So, the learning started with Hanuman moving backwards while facing sun while the sun taught him. The movement of hanuman facing the sun while learning, later was popularly called as Suryanamaskara.
Suryanamaskara can be dated back to Ramayana — where it is quoted in Adityahridayam but with a simple sequence. There are lot of variations which are recorded in practice and the sequence of poses. Recent origin of Suryanamaskara can be traced back to King of Aundh, Sri Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi who popularized the practice in his book, “The ten point way to health”. Also, Sri Krishnamachari who is called ‘Father of modern yoga’, came up with Ashtanga Suryanamaskaras which are different from the regular Suryanamaskara.
Over the years, Surynamaskara has undergone many changes. With Suryanamaskara in Hatha yoga, we practice 12 poses to complete on one side (left or right). A complete one round of Suryanamaskara will have 24 poses to be done sequentially.
In the modern world — where it is common to see the rat race to stay ahead of others, Suryanamaskara is regarded as the best practice to lead an active lifestyle and keep the mind healthy. It not only helps to keep our body healthy, but also has therapeutic value to cure certain diseases majorly psychosomatic and degenerative ones.
Let’s dive deep into the physical and mental health aspects and how Suryanamaskara helps restoring the balance.
There are many factors that would make our body to fall sick. Modern medical Science cites reasons as traumatic, metabolic, drug induced, hormonal imbalance, neurological, infections, stress, anxiety, congenital and neoplastic issues, obesity, Immune disorders etc. But if you look at it from Yogic view, ill health is caused by imbalances of energy systems and doshas in our body. These imbalances might be latent in the body for many years that can strike without warning resulting in physical illness. In this article, Suryanamaskara is discussed along with its impact on Nadis and how it balances both thus helping a person to achieve good health.
We constantly experience change in our energies, moods, emotions throughout the day. In the Yogic world, these account for imbalance of Nadis, primarily Ida and Pingala Nadi. A pingala dominant person is extrovert, constantly active aiming towards ambitions, external pleasures and happiness. Sympathetic nervous system is highly active in such people. This results in they are being restless and irritable. They face metabolic and endocrine glands imbalance and acidity. In case of Ida dominant person, they usually are introvert, passive, a daydreamer and lethargic to act on anything. Parasympathetic nervous system is active in Ida dominant people. They usually have lot of mental energy and they look for inner happiness. However, they do not have physical vitality to act on the plans that they make. They also suffer from depression, constipation, anxiety, and psychosomatic conditions.
Normal life cycle experiences shift of energies between Ida Nadi and Pingala Nadi every 90 minutes. Normal state of balance of both Ida and Pingala is very difficult to achieve. Sometimes, it may so happen that the rhythm is broken and one Nadi will take over resulting in illness.
Suryanamaskaara helps in restoring the balance in Nadis. It boosts Prana shakti (vital energy of life, not just breath) and develop the physical stamina to overcome the disease. It activates the metabolism and helps in removing toxins from the body. When a low energetic person or Ida dominant person practices Suryanamaskara, it helps to divert energy from mental activity to physical plane. It helps person to overcome overthinking and dreaming thus tiring the body. When a Pingala dominant person practices Suryanamskara, it helps in burning excess energy and channelize the blocked energies. Thus, Suryanamaskara helps in bringing physical and mental energies together achieving balance in the state of mind and body.
Let’s look at its therapeutic value to vital organs of the body. Surynamaskara is done with rhythmic synchronization of breathing with the movement of body. This facilitates removal of stale gas and mucus from lungs. The oxygen content in the blood is increased which helps in oxygenation of cells and tissues of the body as well as the brain. Practice of Suryanamaskara improves efficacy of heart without straining cardiac muscles. Along with it, Suryanamaskara also increases digestive fire and massages abdominal organs. Perspiration that happens because of Suryanamaskara helps significantly improves skin tone and also results in removing toxins and other waste from the body. Suryanamaskara also has a positive effect on endocrine glands, spine flexibility and strength.
The modern Hatha yoga practice includes the below poses as part of Suryanamaskara (the same is illustrated in picture above)
Samasthithi
Stand with legs together, arms besides body, keeping entire body active.
1) Pranamasana (Exhale)
Join palms together at heart centre.
2) Hasta Uttanasana (Inhale)
Raise your arms and arch back.
3) Pada hastasana (Exhale)
Bending from your hip, palms beside your feet. Feel free to bend your knees but keep your back straight.
4) Aswa sanchalanasana (Inhale)
Keep your right leg back, right knee can be down.
5) Dandasana (Hold breath)
Left leg back and entire body in a single line.
6) Ashtanga namaskara (Exhale)
Knee, chest and chin down on mat. If its difficult entire body can be on the mat. Palms beside your chest.
7) Bhujangasana (Inhale)
Raising your head and chest up pressing your palm to the ground.
8) Parvatasana (Exhale)
Move your hip to ceiling, tucking your toes. Keep your legs together.
9) Aswasanchalanasana (Inhale)
Keep your right leg forward, left knee can be down for variation or left knee off the floor.
10) Pada hastasana (Exhale)
Keep your left foot forward and bending forward, palms beside your feet. Feel free to bend your knees.
11) Hasta uttanasana (Inhale)
Raising up, raise your arms and arch back.
12) Pranamasana (Exhale)
Hands at heart centre.
This completes half round. Repeat the same thing one the other side to complete one round of Suryanamaskara.
Namasthe!
— Chittamandara
