If
you've ever watched somebody do a sun salutation, it's pretty
intimidating to say the least. Yet, if they know the drill, seeing them
fly from pose to pose is enough to make you want to give it a shot.
A sun salutation is a 12-pose sequence that stands to be one of the
most universally well-known of the yoga motions. It's meant to get your
blood flowing and your body comfortably loose before embarking on the
more strenuous portions of the yogi workout. What a perf way to greet
the sun and say hello to your morning with a burst of energy!
Wanna' try it out? Here's GL's sun-sal how-to:
Relax
1.
Stand up straight and bring your hands to your "heart's center" (aka
zen-like in the center of your chest). Your palms should be touching as
in a prayer position.
2. Separate your hands and lift your arms straight above your head, reach, and lengthen your body toward the sky.
3.
Fold your body in half, bringing your hands to your toes, hanging
loosely like a rag doll, stretching your hamstrings. Then, fold up just
until you reach a flat-back position, where your back is parallel to the
floor. Fold all the way down again.
4. Slide into a left-legged lunge (your left foot is in front, right is in back).
5. Move your left leg back to meet the right so you're in a push-up or plank position.
6. Keeping your elbows hugging your ribs, bend down and lower your body until your elbows reach a 90-degree angle to the floor.
7. Glide into upward facing dog (legs flat on the floor with your upper body looking up, arms straight).
8. Adjust back to downward facing dog (straight legs, straight arms, hips in the air pointing to the sky).
9. Slide into a right-legged lunge.
10. Pull your left leg forward to meet the right and fold your body in half again. Pull up to flat back.
11. Raise your torso to a standing position and bend slightly back, arms reaching out behind you.
12. Return to standing position, hands at heart center.
Repeat, starting with the opposite leg.