12 Surya Namaskara A

It only takes 20 mins a day to stay connected to your centre, the key is the consistency of the practice. A little every day goes so much further than an hour a week. And really we owe it to ourselves.

We connect 6 days a week, Sat is our rest day. We will connect on Zoom, 7am sharp. Log on and get yourself sorted, PJ's are fine. If you can't make it, find time somewhere in your day to stay consistent. You will receive a daily link, it will arrive via email.

The practice

You are working at the level where you find your body, and you are developing from there. You may be modifying and that's OK. You can use your knees as support during plank, or you might be practicing floating in Chaturanga. We are watching our bodies get stronger and more flexible as we stay consistent, recognising how the body and mind change with consistency.

Development of your practice

1st Learning the form - Focusing entirely on breath synchronisation, alignment, and beginning to feel the sequence from the inside.

2nd Rhythm of our practice - Finding your Rhythm

3rd Taking the practice deeper - The work turns inward — meditation in motion, mantra, intention, and mental stillness.

4th Embody the practice - The practice becomes yours, finding your flow state

The benefits

1. It's a moving meditation Each posture engages different muscle groups while synchronizing breath and bodily movements, creating a kind of moving meditation which requires the body, breath, mind and awareness to be working in coordination.

2. It calms the nervous system via the breath Controlled, rhythmic breathing in each posture stimulates the vagus nerve — a key player in the autonomic nervous system — which acts as a bridge between mind and body, calming the heart rate and reducing anxiety. This can help reduce the mental chatter and overthinking that often plague people.

3. Proven to improve self-control and mindfulness A published study found that Surya Namaskara significantly improves self-control and mindfulness in practitioners.

4. Reduces stress hormones Practising Surya Namaskar leads to improvements in mental calm, peace, restfulness, strength, and awareness. Consistent practice can help manage stress and alleviate depression, fostering a sense of well-being and purpose.

5. Breaks compulsive mental cycles The practice is an important tool that empowers human beings to break free from compulsive cycles and patterns — compulsiveness is not conducive for consciousness, and Surya Namaskar is an important process to enable that to shift.

I can't wait to share this beautiful practice

Elaine xxx