Stepping Into Spring

Spring is nature’s way of saying: “let’s party “said the brilliant Robin Williams and boy was he right! After the long winter months and snow in March! Spring has finally sprung and you can’t help but feel that extra ‘spring’ in your step.

The sunlight, longer days and warmer weather can make us feel much more active and what better way is there to step into the spring than a salute to the Sun. After months of wanting to curl up on the sofa with a blanket and a good book or the Game Of Thrones box set it can take a bit of time to get yourself going and your body moving again and Sun Salutations are a good way of doing just that.

Sun salutations give us a full body workout and if the weather is warm and sunny there is nothing more gratifying than saluting the sun surrounded by all the vibrant colours, smells and sounds of nature, leaving you energised and full of the joys of spring!

Surya Namaskar

1. Starting in Pranamasana (Prayer Pose)

• Stand at the front of your mat with your feet together and the weight of your body equally distributed on both feet.
• Relax your shoulders and stand tall.
• On the in breath lift your both arms up into the air and as you exhale bring your palms together and your arms down so your hands are in front of your chest in prayer position.

2. Hastauttanasana

• Inhale and lift your arms up and back
• Arch your back and bring your head between your arms with your palms facing each other.

3. Hasta Padasana

• Exhale and stretch down from your hips, bending your upper body down from the waist and bringing your hands to the floor
• Your toes and fingers are in line and your head is touching your knees or you are looking towards your thighs (depending on your flexibility)
• You can also bend your knees a little if you’re not too flexible or use wooden blocks if your hands can’t reach the floor.

4. Ashwa Sanchalanasana

• Inhale and take your right leg back
• Your right knee is on the ground with toes pointing outward and palms on the floor.
• Look up or gaze forward.

5. Plank

• Breathe out and then as you inhale take your left leg back into plank position.
• Your hands are under your shoulders and you are looking ahead at the floor.

6. Sashtanga Namaskar

• Exhale and bring your knees, chest and forehead down to the floor into Sashtanga Namaskar. Your elbows are by your ribs away from the floor.

7. Bhujangasana

• Keeping your hands firmly grounded and elbows close to your ribs slide your upper body up and look upwards.

8. Adho Mukha Svanasana

• Exhale, tuck your toes under and raise your hips up into downward facing dog.

9. Ashwa Sanchalanasana

• Inhale and put your right foot between your hands. (You can use your hands to help bring your foot forward if you can’t go directly into this position)
• Your left knee should stay on the floor with toes pointing outward.

10. Hasta Padasana

• Exhale and bring your left foot forward to meet the right, moving into a forward bend.
• Your fingers and toes are in line with your head.

11. Hasta Uttanasana

• Breathe in and bring both arms up, stretching forward and then back.

12. Pranamasana

• As you exhale, bring your palms together at your heart’s centre.
• Repeat this sequence twice and build on it by adding one or two more repetitions each day.