SUN SALUTATIONS

Vinyasa Flow - Sun Salutations

‍

Sometimes it's good to go back the beginning. As yoga teachers it's easy to take things for granted - for example, what is a Sun Salutation and why we do them. Hopefully our post will shed a little of light on the matter.

If you are tempted to try you can always watch our free selection of 31 sun salutation on demand videos here. Each of the 10 minute sessions are different so you will get a good insight into how our vinyasa flow classes can vary from class to class.

Why we do Sun Salutations?

In Vinyasa Flow yoga, the Sun Salutation is frequently used for many reasons:

• It warms you up and gets you breathing
• You stretch and strengthen several muscles at once
• Different poses can be smoothly integrated (the ‘flow’ bit)

‍

For those who would like to remember this sequence quickly, here it is a quick version:

1. Stand (grounding feet)
2. Arms over head (reach high)
3. Bend forward (bend knees if needed)
4. Hands on ground, walk back to Plank
5. Reverse press up (Caturanga)
6. Upward dog (squeeze glutes, push chest forward)
7. Downward dog (push bum to sky)
8. Step/jump feet to front of mat to meet hands
9. Bend forward
10. Arms over head
11. Stand

Tips

• Try to do 3 – 5 when you wake up
• Focus on the breath (inhale and exhale through nose)
• Draw in your lower belly, supporting lower back

I can give more explanation but many of my students would like a quick way to remember this sequence.

‍

There are also modifications to the poses should some of them not be quite within your range of motion at the moment - but it's probably easier to outline in a one to one or in a studio class.

‍

Thanks to my lovely model, Tim, doing the salutations in Cornwall in the misty sunlight.

‍

As vinyasa flow yoga teachers, we like to use sun saluatioins as part of our regular classes. The beauty of flow yoga is that here is no set sequence so every yoga class, or on demand yoga class will be slightly different.

‍

Why not give sun salutations a try?

‍

We have a selection of different sun salutations you can try....with our free Sun Salutation Challenge. We've recorded 31 sessions all around 10 minutes long so hopefully you can fit into your day. Why not give them a go.