Though yoga can bring tremendous physical benefits and powerful mental clarity and calm, there can be a lot to wrap your head around, even when it comes to mastering the basics. So we’ve decided to help you out by breaking down one of the key fundamentals—Surya Namaskar, also known as a sun salutation. You may not be familiar with the name, but you’ll have almost certainly been put through the paces if you’ve attended any sort of instructor-led yoga class. Hint: It’s normally the warmup. But while sun salutations may just sound like a precursor to the good stuff, they’re actually one of the most beneficial elements of practicing yoga and come with plenty of awesome benefits. Whether you’re just setting out on your yoga journey or you’re a Vinyasa regular looking to take things up a notch, it’s worth spending time perfecting your sun salutations. So, with the help of a yoga instructor, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about sun salutations, from their purpose and benefits to the poses and how to do them properly.
