Sun Salutation

Believe me, when you haven’t seen much of the sun- typical of these Canadian winters- Sun Salutations are a lovely, invigorating way of creating some much needed heat. Here, we honour the sun, wherever it may be- I know it’s there somewhere. It’s a lovely beginning to a practice and a wonderful foundation series in my flow. One where I feel strong and light.
Sanskrit, namaskar has it’s root in namas, or “to adore” or “to bow”.

Ancient yogis taught that each of us replicates the world at large, embodying “rivers, seas, mountains, fields…stars and planets…the sun and moon” (Shiva Samhita, II.1-3).

They maintained that the outer sun is in reality representative of our own “inner sun,” which relates to our subtle, or spiritual, heart. Here is the seat of consciousness and higher wisdom (jnana) and, in some traditions, the domicile of the embodied self (jivatman).

Thanks, Yoga Journal!