Every yoga classes begin with the sun salutation Surya Namaskar. It's a great heating exercise that prepares each part of our body to the series of asanas. Also it is recommended when you have no time for the full yoga class.
But Surya Namaskar it's not only the physical exercise, as every movement in yoga, it contains a deep philosophy. This knowledge makes that practise more consious and more precise.
Each position in sun salutation corresponds to the 12 names of the Sun. One question that can come in our minde: Why it is the sun that we salute and not the moon, the water , the trees etc. The answer is simple- the sun is the life. Sun is coming in the morning , giving us the energy to continue the life, sun enlights the world for us, sun is heating us and the earth, thanks to the sun the trees, flowers, fruits ans vegetables growing and this is the only energy that gives also the vitamins! Thanks to the sun rays our organism is producing vitamin D that is very important for the human skeleton and the immune system. Also the lack of the light can cause one of the seasonal affective disorder (winter depression). Due to all this factors we see that the sun is inseparable part of our life, that's why we are full of greet for his energy. In the old days , this exercise was the part of the spiritual practise.
We begin the cycle of explanation of 12 positions and the names of the sun.
Position Number 1 "Namaskar Position"
Breathing: Exhalation
Body: Hands together on the center of the chest. Body is streight yet relaxed.
Mantra :
ॐ मित्राय नम: (om mitraya namaha). Prostration To Him Who Is Affectionate to All.
In the first mantra we call the sun our friend, Mitra means "friend"or "friendship". The sun is with us during the day, we are sad when in the morning no sun outside, we are not in good mood when the sky is grey we are missing the sun as we miss our good friend.
Hari Om Tat Sat
Source: "The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga" Swami Vishnudevananda
http://www.harekrsna.de/surya/surya-names.htm
