Surya Namaskar is legit the best thing that you can do for your body. And your body needs it. We spend so much time on the internet, lounging around or in chairs that our bodies become the shape of the chairs that we sit on. We also have terrible posture when we’re walking around and we like to take an Uber instead of walking for 15 minutes. Partly because its so hot too. We don’t feel like exercising because we don’t have energy, because we don’t feel like exercising. It’s this horrible cycle that we tend to get trapped in, and then we have no energy left over from all the things that we’ve been doing that burn it.
We don’t sleep on time, we don’t put off the TV, and we don’t really do things that benefit our bodies. However, there’s one thing that we can do in the morning to get our temperature up and burning fat on an empty stomach. That’s Surya Namaskar.
It has some magical properties that make us feel that much more energized and mentally light during the day. Since it’s a full body workout, our lymphatic system burns the fat much faster, than if we just went on the treadmill for an hour or walked on stairs. The beach is an even better idea when it comes to doing Surya Namaskar.
So what does the science say?
Surya Namaskar is the best way to strengthen the body and lose fat at the same time. Its affects go way beyond health and fitness and enter the cognitive space as well.
In a study of 42 school children called “A comparative study of slow and fast suryanamaskar on physiological function”, it was shown that those who did the exercise had higher levels of mental cognitions, lower heart rate and blood pressure, and had a higher lung capacity. The exact conclusion was below –
“The present study reports that SN has positive physiological benefits as evidenced by improvement of pulmonary function, respiratory pressures, hand grip strength and endurance, and resting cardiovascular parameters.”
According to scientists, Surya Namaskar opens up some of the blockages that we’ve developed over time, and when we spend an hour with our own thoughts we become calmer and more relaxed.
In the study titled “Effects of suryanamaskar on relaxation among college students with high stress in Pune, India”, it was proven that with a group of 400+ students in Pune, they had lower stress and imbalances because of high-stress. When they were tested months after they had started, they had a higher disposition to react calmly and with composure.
The benefits to the body
Since Surya Namaskar has so many positive effects on the mind, it has some incredible effects on the body as well. You become more flexible, your lung capacity improves, and you become sharper as an individual. You also have a sense of calmness about yourself that is very difficult to master by just self-talk. You also get more energy to work/study longer hours and you have a sense of purpose to everything you’re doing. You’re not just dragging your feet along all the time, looking for that next hit of sugar or coffee.
How to do it and for how long?
Most experts believe that Surya Namaskar is a way of life and not just a wellness exercise. You get in-tune with your body and become more flexible and in-touch. They recommend that you do Surya Namaskar for atleast 30 days for 5 days a week. That’s when you can start to see some real results in how you feel, act and work. If you notice any difference, then you should continue doing it.
Remember to go slow and not to push it beyond your comfort level. You want to take it easy your first few times and invest in a good Yoga Mat!
Enjoy it – that’s the most important part.
