Live Whole Health #141: Sun Salutations

Just as the sun rises every morning to give us light and warm our earth, sun salutations are a beautiful way to start our day. Sun salutations are a sequence of yoga poses that can be done as one movement and one breath while honoring the sun (the provider of all energy on earth). This type of free movement allows our body to have greater strength, stamina and flexibility when done consistently.

If you are not an early riser, it’s okay. Just know that sun salutations can be done at any time of the day, but a benefit of doing it first thing in the morning is that it can help get our day started in a positive way by moving our body and perhaps practicing gratitude to the sun and all that it does for us.

Some other health benefits of sun salutations include helping us to be present and grounded, creating focus for the day, gaining muscle and flexibility, boosting immune system, de-stressing, and finding inner calmness.

Join St. Louis VA Medical Center’s yoga teacher and Whole Health Coach Katherine Hillgren for a 10-minute Sun Salutation practice that offers three variations: sitting, standing with chair support, and standing without support.

How can yoga benefit your health?

The various components of yoga—including the postures, meditation and breathing—offer a wide range of benefits related to the Circle of Health and your health and well-being. Learn more here: https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/Veteran-Handouts/docs/Yoga-508Final-9-4-2018.pdf.

There are so many benefits to moving the body! You don’t have to go to a gym or out for a run to get these benefits. Any activity that uses your energy to move the large muscles in your body has benefits for both your body and your mind.

Some activities increase your stamina, while others improve your strength, flexibility or balance. Moving your body in these ways can improve your ability to do more of the things you want. Moving the body can help prevent and treat dozens of diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, and improve your mental health.

Learn more about moving your body here: https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/circle-of-health/moving-body.asp.