The practice of Surya namaskar can be traced back to the Vedic period in India. The Vedas are a collection of ancient texts that form the basis of Hinduism. In these texts, the sun is worshipped as a god and saluting it is seen as a way to honour its power and energy. The name Surya namaskar comes from the Sanskrit words सूर्य (sūrya) and नमस्कार (namaskāra), which mean “sun” and “greeting” or “salute”, respectively. The original Surya Namaskar was not a set of yoga poses but a collection of sacred words chanted at sunrise by a Brahmin priest whilst reciting the Gayatri Mantra.
In 1936, Rajah Bhavanarao Pant Pratinidhi of Aundh, India, introduced the Sun Salutation to England through lectures and an exhibit film. Sun salutations are a fundamental component of Hatha yoga practice. They aid in developing strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, concentration, breathing, energy levels, and overall health.
They can also be used as a warm-up before any other exercise or activity. Sun salutations improve cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, stress reduction, posture improvement, sleep quality, and digestion.
