Practicing Surya Namaskar
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Surya Namaskar, for best benefits should be practiced at dawn. Any yoga practice (especially one that includes asanas) should be done only on an empty stomach or no sooner than three hours after a main meal.
Surya Namaskar is traditionally practiced in a well ventilated place as the sun is rising. This practice is extremely powerful because the practitioner can be instantly energized by the subtle rays of the sun. It is best if it is dry outside, not too windy and not too late in the morning. If the sun is too high, this will cause a lot of heat to be created in the body. This can aggravate a pitta constitution.
If one is practicing Surya Namaskar primarily to achieve cleansing and health benefits, six to twelve repetitions can be practiced at a faster pace. For intense physical purifying and cleansing, it is possible to practice many repetitions of Surya Namaskar daily, however the practitioner should practice this with the supervision and guidance of a teacher.
For a more spiritually focused practice, six to twelve repetitions can be practiced at a much slower pace. A small amount of time should be given between each repetition. As each repetition is practiced, the breathing should become slower and more controlled. Usually at first, this is the opposite for most practitioners. They can find themselves becoming breathless and even breaking a sweat. If the practitioner does become breathless, they should ensure they pause between each repetition.
When the breath, the movement and the mind flow as one, grace expresses itself through the asanas practice. This harmonious integration is Nithya Yoga – eternal uniting.