Sun Salutation for Quick Weight lose & Resistance training

I mentioned earlier also that a Regular practice of Surya Namaskars, no doubt will help you 
trim down overall, specially if you are hard pressed for time and helps in elevating your mood, making it a great relaxation workout. 

"A 2011 study published in the Asian Journal of Sports medicine 5 found that after six months of daily sun salutations and no other resistance training, young men and women could bench press signaficantly more weights and complete far more push-ups and pull ups than at the start of the study".

Some of the benefits, I have experienced over couple of months of my practice are:

• Trims waist: One of the best exercises to loose the flab around your waist and hips. Surya Namaskar in particular is very effective, as the flowing sequence of asanas allow stretching and bending of the internal digestive organs, giving them gentle. 

• Younger looking Skin - Continuous sweating during second and third sets of your workout will make your skin look younger. Exercises in general act as detoxifying agents & this in particular works very effectively on detoxification due to heavy and rhythmic breathing involved.

• Total Body Workout - No other Yoga exercise can claim this distinction as Surya Namaskar of providing a great workout for the whole body, stretching, toning the over all muscles and flexing the entire Spinal vertebra.  Twelve round of Surya Namaskar involves body weight based toning exercises like 12 Push ups, 24 Lunges (one for Right & Left Leg for each round)

• Practicing Sun Salutation at different speeds (slow,medium,fast) can have different effects.If done at a slow pace, it can help strengthen and tone body muscles. Use the breath as an effective tool in slow movements to bring the body, mind &  breath in harmony and enjoy a complete meditative experience. A few rounds of quick Sun salutations can be a great Cardic workout. If your are doing it as a warm up exercise, do it at a fast pace. But if Sun Salutation is included in the entire yoga           posture package, you can do it at slow to medium pace. 

Happy Practicing

Karnapidasana- my Celestial Bliss

Karnapadiasana is a variation of Halasana (Plow pose) in which the legs are dropped further down so that the knees are also on the ground next to the ears.

 

pic courtesy Leslie Anatomy

Anatomically this pose offers a deeper journey into a complete extension of the spine flexion, intense stretch of the hips and allowing each vertebrae to bath with a therapeutic fluid. 

Beside above the various other benefits are

• Calms the brain
• Stimulates the abdominal organs and the thyroid gland
• Stretches the shoulders and spine
• Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
• Reduce stress and fatigue
• Therapeutic for backache, headache, infertility, insomnia & sinusitis.

But my attachment to this pose is to the feeling of Celestial bliss, which I experience when I close my eyes, gently cover my ears with hands and start the process to go inwards. I recreate an image of myself as a baby, soothingly placed inside my mom's womb in fetal position, isolated from the senses and stimulation of the outside world.

With the only sense left is to LISTEN to my heart beat IN & OUT, beckoning me to travel beneath the flesh and bones to the heightened sensations. While all the asanas under traditional Hatha yoga have the potential to heighten the internal awareness, making it meditative. I always feel the sensation of being nurtured, calm and in a safe place in Karnapidasana. Meditating on the gratitude towards a healthy heart that beats with life and healing. 

So next time as you be in this asana explore the mystery and magic of the breath, renew your hopes and dreams in this calming but energy releasing posture.