Introduction to Surya Namaskar
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Surya Namaskar is translated as Eternal Salutations to the Sun. 'Surya' means 'sun' and 'namaskar' means 'salutations'. The sun in Vedic culture is symbolic of consciousness and therefore has been worshipped daily in this tradition.
Our body is equipped with innate intelligence to produce energy from the sun. According to the ancient science of Ayurveda, the human organism is the ultimate system on planet earth. It is a living memory bank, a storehouse of the enormous intelligence of all the other bodies on earth.
Nithya Yoga operates on the belief that if plants can produce energy directly from the sun, why can't man? After all, every human being is composed of the same five elements, earth, water, fire, air and ether as the rest of the universe.
The practice of surya namaskar will awaken the body intelligence to directly create energy from the sun. For centuries we have suppressed, denied and forgotten the fact that the body has its own intelligence; the wisdom of the ages is stored in each and every cell. The ancient rishis understood this truth and therefore declared time and again that we are filled with cosmic consciousness.
Every cell in the body actively responds to environmental stimuli both internal and external. According to Indian tradition, the body is a wonderful mechanism that has the intelligence and capacity to produce energy. Surya namaskar is designed to access the etheric energy all around us. When performed facing the East in the first rays of the morning sun along with the appropriate breathing technique and surya namaskar mantra, the effect on the individual mind, body and spirit is incomparable.
Early morning at dawn, when the sun bursts on the horizon, the air is filled prana shakti, life force energy. That is why it is advised we do sun salutations at that time of the morning so we accrue maximum benefit from our practice. It is not uncommon to see in India, on rooftops, in courtyards, in beaches and by the river side people gathering in the early hours of the morning to practice the sun salutations.