Surya Namaskar (Salutation to Sun) is a set of 12 powerful sequence of yogasanas with its origins in India where Surya is worshipped by the Hindus. This asana involves backward and forward bending postures that flex and stretch the spinal cord through their maximum range and in turn giving a profound stretch to the whole body.
Surya Namaskara has enormous health benefits like detoxifying the organs through copious oxygenation and providing deeper relaxing effect. All in all, these Sun Salutation postures are effective way to keep body and mind in shape.
Surya Namaskara provides effective results when done early in the morning and on an empty stomach. The asana has 12 postures such as Pranamasana (Salutation Posture), Hastauttasana (Raised Arm posture), Padahastasana (Hand to Foot posture), Ashwasanchalanaasana (Equestrian Posture), Parvataasana (Mountain Position), Ashtanga Namaskara (Salutation with eight limbs), Bhujangasana (Cobra Posture), Parvataasana (Mountain Position), Ashwasanchalanaasana (Equestrian Posture), Padahastasana (Hand to Foot posture), Hastauttasana (Raised Arm posture) and Pranamasana (Salutation Posture).
The above constitutes one half of the Surya Namaskar. The other half is completed when the same movements are repeated except that the right leg is brought back in posture four and left foot is brought forward in posture nine. To complete one Surya Namaskar the asanas are to be done twice.