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Suryanamaskar, the salute to the sun, can be a melodic
moving meditation. Surya translates to the word sun in
Sanskrit, the original language of yoga. Namaskaram, the traditional greeting
in the
South of India, translates to the word salutation like the more familiar
word namaste
which is in the dialect of Hindi and is used in the North of India.
There are many physical translations of Suryanamaskar from various schools
and dating
to different origins and traditions. These sequential vignettes or rhythmic
vinyasas
can used to open a practice, singularly used to link other sequences of
asanas together
and can become an entire practice in themselves. Surynamaskar A, B, and
C are the
most well-known and can be learned through all of our Flow
Series DVD’s in their
proper alignment and with modifications for greater accessibility.
Here are some suggestions to help you savor your salutations. Try practicing
each new
repetition or grouping of salutations with your full attention on one
of the focuses
suggested below.
FOCUS ON THE FLUIDITY OF YOUR BREATH: Let
each movement within the
salutation begin and end with a full, unbroken breath. Let the timing
of your breath
create the pace of each movement. This is finding rhythm in the salutation.
FOCUS ON LINES OF ENERGY: Let extensional energy
be the key element of
each movement. Find the polarity within each action by sensing opposing
directional
energies… left, right, up, down, forward, backward. Over-effort
will block
energetic or nerve flow, whereas under applied effort can block energy
and create
joint tension.
FOCUS ON ALIGNMENT: Let each complete salutation
and each movement within
the salutation follow the wisdom of proper placement. Finish each movement
fully
before executing the next.
FOCUS ON ATTENTION WHILE CONCENTRATING: Keep
your attention and
concentration vigilant. Balance one-pointed focus with awareness in all
directions. This
includes upward and downward moving energy, inward and outward attention,
aware-
ness of the space you occupy, the negative spaces within the form of the
asana, and
awareness of the entire surrounding environment. Energy comes from everywhere
and
can be lost thru inattention.
FOCUS ON GRAVITY: The trick here is to work
with and against gravity
depending on the movement. Don’t do your own heavy lifting. In essence,
learn to under-
stand and use gravity to elevate your practice. This is the secret to
creating lightness
in your asanas and experiencing the pleasure of being on the planet.
FOCUS ON FREEDOM: Give yourself the freedom
to explore range of motion,
intuitive variations and creative nuances within the poses that make up
the salutation
sequence. Letting go of what you expect to experience in the asanas allow
the freedom
of insight to surface and encourage the joy of practice.
FOCUS ON FLOW: Let one movement flow into the
next. Even though you want
to execute each aspect of the salutation completely, let the next corresponding
movement begin seamlessly. Focus on the spaces between asanas as well
as the asana
itself. Listen for the rhythm, look for the harmony, and experience the
grace in your
practice. Flow is achieved by bringing all of the aforementioned focuses
into play at
one time. Namaste! |
