Unnata Aerial Yoga Sun Salutations

Surya Namaskar, otherwise known as Sun Salutations, is a well-recognized part of modern yoga classes. Graceful and dance-like, the movements flow in time with the breath’s rhythm. Frequently used at the beginning of a yoga class as an important warm up for our main muscles and joints, Surya Namaskar centers the mind and prepares the body for the stretching and strengthening of the yoga postures (asanas) that follow.

What You Will Get Out of This Workshop (Benefits & Goals)

In this workshop, you’ll learn the purpose and effect of the different parts of a Sun Salutation, and how we can integrate use of the yoga hammock into the Sun Salutation to enhance our experience. Learn eight different Sun Salutation sequences, placing the hammock at different points along the body, and using its support in different ways, to achieve a variety of effects.

Brief History of Surya Namaskar

As with anything that derives from a mostly oral tradition, there is some debate on the roots of Surya Namaskar, and the dates of when it arose. It’s connection to yoga asana classes is most commonly attributed to Krishnamacharya only as early as the 1930’s, not even 100 years ago! Considering none of the positions that make up Surya Namaskar are described in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the ancient guidebook for hatha yoga, it would seem the practice is more of a modern adaptation. Even so, movement sequences like the sun salutation were used in various contexts (perhaps more spiritual, as opposed to physical fitness) as far back as the 12th century BCE. Therein lies the debate – a lot depends on if you see yoga as more of a physical fitness practice, or a spiritual practice.

Whether you practice yoga for physical fitness, a spiritual connection, or both, we can use the yoga hammock to enhance your experience of Surya Namaskar.