Surya namaskar: a way to relax the mind

Abstract

Surya namaskar is a practice which has been handed down from the sages of Vedic times and is an integral part of yogic approach. Surya means ‘sun’ and namaskar means ‘salutation’. So, Surya namaskar means ‘salutation to sun. It can be easily integrated into our daily lives as it require only five to fifteen minutes of practice daily to obtain beneficial results. It is a branch of yoga that concentrates on physical health and mental well-being. Through practicing various body postures (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation, it is believed that one can obtain a calm and peaceful mind.