Original Post Date: March 20, 2009
hello there! and most importantly happy first day of spring! today's been pretty great. i slept in WAY later than i expected to, but it was great. my sister made pancakes and now we're watching top gun. (i have a deep love for 80s movies but it's my first time seeing this one! tom cruise used to be SO cute!) but i started the day with a half sun salutation. i was a little upset when i did my research this morning. wiifit LIED! the "sun salutation" they have you do is some strange variety of the HALF sun salutation (or ardha surya namaskara). anyway, here's the how to via yogabasics.com!


1. start in "mountain" with the palms together

a. have your feet parallel, about 2 -3 inches apart

b. lightly press your palms together with your shoulders down.
c. let your back and the chest press in towards your thumbs.



2. inhale and sweep the arms up with palms together

a. reach up toward the sky while looking up at your thumbs.


3. exhale into forward fold

a. press your palms flat to the floor (or as far as they can go. bend your knees if you need to! i always do. stupid long legs!).

b. try and bring your forehead in toward your legs.


4. inhale and lift into upward forward fold

a. keep your legs and back straight,
b. lift your chest and look up as high as comfortable
c. you can keep your fingertips on the floor or place your palms on your shins or knees








5. exhale into forward fold (this is a repeat of step 3!)

a. press your palms flat to the floor (or as far as they can go. bend your knees if you need to! i always do. stupid long legs!).

b. try and bring your forehead in toward your legs.


6. inhale and sweep the arms up with palms together

a. lift up at your waist and reach toward the sky
b. look up at your thumbs




7. exhale and bring the palms together in mountain
a. pull your hands down together, elbows out, palms touching lightly
 b. let your back and the chest press in towards your thumbs.


i'm told this is a basic level exercise. sun salutations are practiced 2-6 times in a row, generally at sunrise. and that's all! namaste!
-lovelovelove!

p.s. i'm cool enough to cite my work =P

"Half Sun Salutation | Yoga Posture Sequences." Yoga Basics: Your guide to the Practice of Yoga. 20 Mar. 2009