Yoga Poses and stretching exercises warm-ups
The Power of Sun Salutations
Sun Salutations are a series of movements (watch the video) used to warm up the body for yoga practice and connect with your breath. Most people fly through them as quickly as possible, but if you have time, it’s well worth your time to breath deeply and do loads of them.
Sun Salutations for Flexibility
It’s completely pointless to stretch unless you’re warmed up… really, really warm is better! When I lived in New York, I used to make this rule for myself:
“I’m going to do Sun Salutations until sweat drips from my nose.”
In the winter, that took a long time, but it was really important for me when I was really tight to first get really really warm before stretching. Now, I live in Thailand so I’ve had to modify the rule a bit. Now I do Sun Salutes until there’s a puddle (it’s always hot here).
Where to Start
As a general rule, no ones does enough. 5 Sun Salute A’s (pictured above) and 5 Sun Salute B’s (it’s here on this blog too) are really a good idea for most students, especially if you struggle with flexibility.
Ok, that’s all for today!
Stay bendy,
Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
p.s. I’ve got more videos here:
http://youtube.com/user/lrockwood
Tags: yoga pilates stretching exercises flexibility bikram ashtanga pose iyengar anusara posture
at 10:25 pm - 28th November 2008 Permalink
Hi Lucas.
Beautiful demonstration. I was hoping that by watching it I would be tempted to re-think my aversion to the series (particularly downwarddog), but NO. It still looks as bad for me as last time I tried it. No matter how slow, or careful I have been with this, it always throws my neck out and tweaks my back…. I know. That’s the opposite of what it is supposed to do. but that IS what happens. It was good to watch your video, however. At least I know that I was moving ‘properly’.
Still loving your ‘gravity’ poses. Now THAT works for me. I warm up with some gravity poses, then I go on to do the 26 Bikram poses with much more strength and flexibility than when I don’t warm up with gravity.
Again, thanks for your care and time.
Garen
at 7:35 pm - 2nd December 2008 Permalink
I love to watch all your videos .
Congratulations and thank you very much for all your hard work .
at 6:05 pm - 15th December 2008 Permalink
ur rite !!! i do N0T do enuff JUMPINGS…the iyengar method of sun salutations….altho i WILL do M0RE…i IN joy ur reflections & suggestions..they’re VERY helpFULL….& INspiring as well…l00king 4ward 2 recieving the next E-mail….namaste
at 8:31 pm - 14th January 2009 Permalink
Namaste Lucas,
thanks for all the information. Wonderful.
Why can’t I jump forward from Downward Dog without turning my feet out into a wide V SHAPE?
OM SHANTI,
mARILYN.
at 12:50 pm - 8th June 2009 Permalink
great instructions! wow, you are really in good flexi-condition! Thanks for sharing- Very Well Done!
at 2:55 am - 18th October 2009 Permalink
Thank You very much for everything You do for people. Thanks of You this life is more beautiful and better than long time ago.
at 2:30 am - 9th March 2010 Permalink
loved the salute to the sun one of my favourites still have not been able to access the stretchs book
at 8:46 am - 9th August 2010 Permalink
I really agree, sun salutations should be really a constant routine of a yoga student and even teachers. And your videos are really great.
at 1:38 am - 13th August 2010 Permalink
Correct! Sun salutations are really the good thing to do first because it warms up your body and prepares it to for a yoga exercise. It can help you avoid muscle pains after exercising.
at 6:55 am - 25th October 2010 Permalink
Wonderful video – thanks for sharing this. And, thanks for all the knowledge you give away so unselfishly.
at 4:38 pm - 25th October 2010 Permalink
You do a beautiful job of demonstrating chaturanga dandasana — keeping a right angle in your elbow at the lowest point, protecting the rotator cuff / shoulder from injury — before sliding into upward facing dog. So often this is an overlooked detail. Thank you for sharing your practice, knowledge and this lovely video!
Namaste
at 2:17 pm - 25th November 2010 Permalink
Great information! I’ll be getting some of the DVDs soon. Lucas, I’ve done yoga for years and found little to help my scoliosis like some of your poses have. Please target scoliosis, specifically, if you could.