| Yoga has hundreds of poses (or asanas). Some are | | | | will naturally bend and extend as your chest moves |
| for balance, some are for flexibility, some are for | | | | along its arc. Push your read end up again as high as |
| strength, and some are for focus. But if you are just | | | | possible. You are back in the position described in the |
| starting out, is there one asana that you can practice | | | | last paragraph. |
| for a while, to see if yoga is for you? | | | | Remember the leg you pushed BACK, 2 paragraphs |
| The Sun Salutation is actually a series of asanas, but it | | | | ago? Bring the OTHER leg forward, bending the knee, |
| provides an excellent introduction to yoga and is a | | | | and place the foot between your hands. Your back will |
| terrific full-body workout. I use it to get back into yoga | | | | naturally bend. Your arms will bend slightly as your leg |
| if I have not practiced for a while. I also use it as a | | | | comes forward, and will extend when the leg reaches |
| warm-up for exercising. It stretches all your muscles, | | | | its destination. |
| adds an element of balancing and breathing, and gets | | | | Bring your rear foot forward, and place it beside your |
| the blood flowing. | | | | front foot. Your hands are outside your feet. Slowly, |
| Here is a quick overview of the Sun Salutation. This | | | | standup. Stand up slowly, with your hands again |
| article is not long enough to give detailed descriptions | | | | pressed together. Bring your hands over your head, |
| of the poses. However, a good introductory text to | | | | and back, in a smooth arc, bending your back. Bring |
| yoga should have descriptions and usually photos or | | | | your hands forward, and return to a standing posture, |
| drawings of the postures. | | | | with your hands in front of you. |
| Start by standing straight up, with feet together, hands | | | | The Sun Salutation is a series of arcs in your back |
| together in a prayer-like pose on your chest. Raise | | | | that switch back and forth. For example, the first arc is |
| your hands straight up and back over your head, | | | | the initial pose, when you bend backwards when you |
| bending backwards as your hands arc backwards. | | | | bring your hands over your head and back. The |
| Bring your hands forward, arcing over your head, until | | | | second arc is when your hands are on either side of |
| you are touching your toes. Your legs should still be as | | | | your feet, and your forehead is near your knees. The |
| straight as possible, and your forehead should be close | | | | arcs switch between arced backwards and arced |
| to your knees. | | | | frontward. |
| Place your palms on the floor on the outside of your | | | | The Sun Salutation stretches all the muscles in the |
| feet, bend your legs, and push one leg back as far as | | | | body, especially the back. It also helps with your |
| possible. Your back will naturally arch, but you should | | | | breathing and balance. This is a great exercise to do |
| raise your chin as much as possible, for maximum | | | | before you exercise, or before you begin something |
| arch. Push your forward foot back and set it aside | | | | that requires long concentration (like the taking the |
| your rear foot, at the same time raising your rear end | | | | SATs). It should be performed several times, such as |
| as high as possible and keeping your hands in place. | | | | 5 or 10, when you do it. You also get an excellent |
| Bring your chest down to the floor, between your | | | | introduction to many postures of yoga, as well as |
| hands, and continue moving it forward and up. At the | | | | learning to feel the rhythm of yoga. |
| same time, pull your rear end down. Your arms will | | | | If this article does not sufficiently describe how to |
| naturally bend as your chest approaches the floor, and | | | | perform the asana, please obtain an introductory text |
| will naturally extend as your chest is pushed up and | | | | on yoga with pictures or drawings of the asanas and |
| out. Reverse this move, so that your chest is dragged | | | | how to perform them. |
| back across the floor and back up. Again, your arms | | | | |