Sun Salutation

Sūrya Namaskāra is comprised of "Sūrya" (sun) and "Namaskāra" (salutation, greeting). It refers to a flowing sequence of postures, linked with the breath, traditionally practiced facing the rising sun as an offering of gratitude to its life-giving light.

Weaving forward folds, lunges, plank, and backbends into a single continuous cycle, it warms and awakens the whole body and embodies the essence of Vinyasa — the union of breath and movement. Beyond exercise, it is practiced as a moving meditation and a gesture of reverence toward the source of all life.

Each movement is paired with an inhalation or exhalation, flowing from Mountain Pose through forward fold, lunge, plank, Chaturanga, Upward Dog, and Downward Dog, then returning to standing. Repeated in rounds to build heat at the start of practice. The pace may be slow and meditative or brisk and energizing.