108 Sun Salutation
Sun salutations are a series of yoga poses strung jointly in a consistent motion which is typically formed on vinyasa-style yoga. Sun salutation referred to as “Surya Namaskar” and was traditionally practiced to usher in the new day.
What And Why
108 Sun Salutation is conventional practiced in the yoga community to celebrate the replace in seasons. The significance of 108 bends many ways.
- The number 108 connects the universe as the distance of the sun and the moon to earth is 108 times their respective diameters.
- The numbers one, zero, and eight respectively refer to god, emptiness in spiritual practice, and infinity.
- There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet, each with a masculine and feminine from 54 multiplies 2 is 108.
- According to yogic lore, there are almost 108 holy sites.
- Malas beads traditionally have 108 beads.
We included a number of workshops surrounding the main event to help our participants prepare and also to uplift our sense of community.
Benefits of 108 Sun Salutations
1) Enhance the strength of the body
As it is the sequence of 12 postures that involve intense stretches that lubricate most of the joints, spime, and other muscles. It helps to improve the flexibility of the muscles and enhances the outer strength of the body.
2) Bring mindfulness
When 108 sun saturation is practiced in a row, it brings in repetition. Due to the repeated sequence, it enhances the psychological health and lets the practitioner be in the moment so that it can bring mindfulness.
3) Burns fat
It serves as an intense workout which is useful to burn calories so the practice is useful for shedding extra fat and leaves a toning effect on the practitioner. It is also proven that one round of sun salutations burns approximately 13.9 calories hence the regular practice of 108 sun salutations is helpful in losing 1 pound every 2 days.
4) Bring self-acceptance
108 sun salutation is an intense workout that the human body required time in order to adapt to such an extensive number of rounds. It lets you acknowledge your limitations, as well as your potentials hence, develops a sense of self-acceptance within the practitioner.
5) Uplift thinking process
108 sun salutation is a challenging task as it develops encouragement. It inculcates motivation and boosts your confidentiality. Taking step towards his practice lets the practitioner come out of the comfort level a this improves the thinking process and shifts the perspective of the practitioners.
Tips for 108 Sun Salutations
1) Listen to your body
Modifications are fine and it is finer to make modifications rather than keep pushing your body through the full appearance of the pose and it also risks injuring yourself through the poor alignment. Knees down for chaturanga is far better than injuring your elbows and shoulders due to the tired execution of full chaturanga.
Substitution you can make involve the following:
- Knees down for chaturanga
- Tabletop for chaturanga
- Cobra For upward facing dog
- Knees bent for forwarding folds
- Child’s pose for downward-facing dog
- Cow for upward facing dog
2) Stay hydrated
Take water with you and drink frequently. Sip rather than gulp in order to prevent nausea. We completed this challenge outside in Saigon where the temperature was close to 30-degree celsius along with the humidity about 50%. There was a lot of sweating so make sure you replace this fluid regularly during the practice time.
3) Focus
It is normal for your mind to wander during this repetitive sequence but in order to keep focus, you could try directing your attention towards a different intention or body area for every 9 or 18 sets. Breathing could be your goal first then hand and wrist placement then arms and shoulder alignment, core engagement, neck placement, legs, feet, toes. Let each set have a different focus to keep you motivated.
4) Enjoy
Allow yourself to fully experience any emotions that surface during the challenge that is boredom, fatigue, exhilaration, euphoria. Experience each breathes and each set wholly as it is the only one that truly matters and many participants told afterward and said they felt themselves enter an almost trance-like state as they inhaled and exhaled through each round of salutations.
It is quite obvious to have doubt before stepping into 108 sun saturation. Besides all the determination and commitments as it is a very personal experience for every practitioner still, some queries are there which seems common among all the people.
