The Health Benefits of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation)

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Surya Namaskar is considered the ‘ultimate asana’ because it brings together 12 asanas in one exercise. Watch the video or check out this illustration to get a better idea of all the asanas included in this exercise.

These asanas are performed in a cyclic manner and can exercise the entire body. While doing the Surya Namaskar you are strengthening your back and abdominal muscles. It stretches the abdominal organs and ventilates the lungs too.

What are the health benefits of Surya Namaskar?

Surya Namaskar, or Sun Salutation, is the practice of paying respect to the sun with several physical and mental health benefits such as:

Full-body workout:

Practising Surya Namaskar for 10 minutes daily can burn more calories that swimming for 10 minutes. It is an effective cardiovascular workout to lose belly fat and strengthen ab muscles.

Improved digestion and blood circulation:

Surya Namaskar helps against indigestion and constipation by stretching abdominal organs. It also boosts blood circulation in the body by bringing down blood sugar levels. The breathing asanas in this exercise help detoxify the body and improve lung health.

Psychological benefits:

Surya Namaskar works on the endocrine gland and mainly the thyroid gland. This can help boost your mental health by keeping away anxiety and insomnia. It also improves your memory and nervous system.

The Surya Namaskar is best done during the morning at sunrise. It helps get your day off to a bright start. However, if you miss the morning workout, you can take ten minutes during your day for this exercise too. You must always do the Surya Namaskar on an empty stomach, which is another reason why it is a good exercise in the morning. Check out the Activ Living Page to learn more yoga exercises for body detox, weight loss and much more

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