108 Sun Salutations

I have started practicing yoga, the first asana sequence I’ve learned was the Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskara. Surya means Sun, Namaskara – salutation. The asanas aren’t only the positions of the body, they are far beyond that. We can’t explore them like separate poses and must dig deeper. For instance, how we arrange them in sequence brings different benefits for the body and mind. That’s why it’s important how we link asanas. Nothing can’t be more beneficial than a good yoga sequence connected with our breath.

BG ( 108 пъти Поздрав към Слънцето)

What is Sun Salutation?

Sun Salutation is a yoga routine including basic for every practitioner asanas. There are two sequences – Surya Namaskar A and Surya Namaskar B which has a little difference.

The benefits of practicing Sun Salutation

There are lots of articles describing the benefits practicing Sun Salutation sequence. For me, the positive effect is on the energy channels in the human body that connect the main centers (or so-called chakras). The other impact is the flexibility we gain practicing it. The Surya Namaskara is stretching the spine, the legs; strengthening the muscles of the arms, back, abdomen; massaging the abdominal organs, and helping the blood circulation, etc.

The positive sides are also psychological. Of course, if the person is setting the intention. The Sun Salutation helps to overcome emotional conditions like stress and depression. The regular practice energizes and relaxes the body and can be a tool to overcome chronic physical and psychical fatigue. You can start your day with Sun Salutation repeating it 10 times.

108 Sun Salutation

108 times repetition of Sun Salutations can be described with the yoga mala and its sacred beads, the prayers, and mantras. The number 108 is subject to scientific research and nowadays many popular articles are on the Internet. The numbers always attract our attention. The different cultures have different interpretations of the meaning. One of explanation why the number 108 is so special is that the average distance between the Earth and the Sun is 108 times the sun’s diameter. Also, 1 is the divine number; 0 combines the emptiness and completeness, 8 is the symbol of infinity, etc. You can share your knowledge as well. What do you know about the meaning of the number 108?

My experience

I found a Facebook event organized by Yoga Studio Amrita. It was an outdoor yoga class at the Central Park of Plovdiv on Sunday morning. When I arrived all the participants were there, ready for the challenge. After one hour and fifteen minutes, we did it. During the practice, I was thinking that the movements were meditative and not only physical exercise and that the key to succeeding. To follow your breath, enjoying everything around, the sky, the birds singing, the noise from passing by people…
I wasn’t thinking will I be able to do all the 108 Sun Salutations because in the end yoga is teaching us not to compete with ourselves and with others. Yoga is teaching us to accept the present moment and to embrace it will all the goods and bads.

The yoga sequence 108 Sun Salutation is definitely challenging. Physical and psychic. But in the end, here comes the Sun! Be patient.