108 Surya Namaskar – What Is The Right Schedule To Follow?

We often hear about the term Surya Namaskar, but many of us hardly make an effort to include it in our fitness regime. Leave alone 108 Surya Namaskara (108 sets), many even struggle to complete a few sets perfectly. Of course, it is difficult for beginners even to imagine themselves doing it 108 times. But, give yourself a few weeks, and you are almost there. But, many of us falter at one aspect — consistency.

From increased flexibility to a stronger spine, the benefits of this ‘yagathon’ challenge are wide-ranging. But how do you get started with this humungous task? Well, we are here to help you. In this article, we have developed a schedule that will help you scale up your reps to 108 over a few weeks. Besides, we also explore its many benefits and who should consult a doctor before embarking on this ‘yogathon’ of Sun Salutations. Keep reading.

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Benefits of 108 Surya Namaskar

So, why would anyone be crazy enough to do Surya Namaskar 108 times? Any yoga novice who has seen what it involves would balk at the idea. Yet, on April 7, 2012, millions took this same ‘Yogathon’ challenge and completed it successfully. Here are some benefits of doing 108 Surya namaskars:

• Different muscle groups are stretched and contracted alternatively – no muscle strain
• Increased flexibility and stamina
• Cleansed chakras or nerve centres
• Deep breathing cleanses the respiratory system
• Flatter abs, stronger spine, firmer muscles – need I say more?
• Makes you mentally calm and poised

How to Prepare Your Body and Mind for the Challenge?

The Surya Namaskar 108 challenge can be a daunting one for many. It is advised that novices, pregnant women, and patients of backache avoid this routine without consulting their doctors first. The expert brave hearts, however, may begin planning and preparing well in advance. Remember, it won’t happen in a day. You need to first assess your physical condition and stamina. The schedule given below follows a pattern spread over a month; follow the schedule to avoid stress related injuries and dejection of failure. Further, don’t push yourself too hard. It is not a competition to be won, but a health summit to be attained. Stay hydrated, eat well and don’t forget to take timeouts for rest. Lastly, remember that this schedule is not engraved in stone. You know your body best, know your limits and be prepared for a delay of a couple of days before you reach your ultimate goal of 54 sets of Sun salutations.

Reaching the 108 pinnacle

The 108 sun salutation is hailed by many celebrities and yoga buffs as the elixir of a young body and mind. It must be mentioned that the body and mind require rest after each session as they increase in pace. Therefore, you must warm up and cool down the body with gentle stretching, practise yoga nidra to relax the body, and remember not to skip any days on the suggested schedule.

The Art of living foundation suggests a further regimen of two weeks after attaining the 108 Surya Namaskar challenge where one reverses the salutations, gradually falling back from 54 sets to 6 sets a day.

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Shirin Mehdi

A jack of many trades and a master of some, Shirin is a writer, a fashion designer, and a chef... more