Why 108 Sun Salutations?


Most Yoga classes include some version of a Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar). These linked poses are a powerful warm-up but also serve another purpose. Surya Namaskar is a salute to the sun or a way to create a new and fresh beginning, hence why it is done at the beginning of a yoga class.
Read on to learn why many yogis, including us at Island Movement, practice this tradition on the first of the New Year.

Why 108 Sun Salutations?

In Yoga, the number 108 is significant for many reasons. 108 is a common number in many sacred yogic texts, and added together, 1+0+8 = 9, which symbolizes universal love, eternity, and awakening. According to Ayurveda, there are 108 sacred points on the body.
Traditionally, Sun Salutations honor the Winter & Summer Solstice and the Spring & Fall Equinox. Many Western Yogi's also use 108 Sun Salutations to mark the beginning of the New Year. The practice harnesses the power of rebirth and new beginnings to detoxify and shed the unwanted experiences of the previous year.
Here is a link to Sun Salutation A & Sun Salutation B if you are unfamiliar with the sequence.

Benefits of 108 Sun Salutations

The internal fire created through this moving meditation helps to cleanse and detoxify while you turn inward and create a more robust connection to yourself. 
You will experience two things if you participate in 108 Sun Salutations. First, more energy as you improve the flow of Prana through your body, and the second is surrender.
Yes, you should expect to want to stop at some point in your practice of 108 Sun Salutations, and it is ok if you stop or pause. If you surrender and keep going during the practice, you will find a sense of flow which leaves you feeling lighter and more open to new possibilities. 
A few other things you may experience during a 108 Sun Salutation Practice:
  • You are, physically, stronger than you think. (We will offer modifications so you can participate no matter the level of your practice.)
  • Negative energy and emotions can be released.
  • You can shift your perspective.
  • You will find your inner strength, allowing you to overcome many obstacles.

See You on the Mat!


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