Unlocking the Power of Surya Namaskar: A Journey of Health and Community
How do you burn an average of 13.9 calories in less than 10 min? How can you achieve all the benefits listed below at zero cost to you or the environment?
Enhance Mental focus
Reduce Stress
Raise Heart Rate
Toned Muscles
Improve Flexibility
Boost Immune System
Integrate Breath and Movement
Sharpen intellect, intuition
Get relief from depression and anxiety
Yes! It’s just one set of Surya Namaskar - or as more popularly coined ‘Sun Salutations’ in the West.
While modern research and Western medical science preach about the boundless benefits of yoga, in today's fast-paced world, finding time for self-care can seem impossible, especially for teenagers, busy parents, and professionals. But yes! You can get a complete set in under 10 min and get all the benefits above, plus more.
Why Surya Namaskar in January?
Traditionally celebrated on January 15th (previously on January 14th), Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. So what better time of the year than Sankranti to create new health resolutions or delve deeper into our yoga practices? Sankranti is celebrated using different names, such as Lohri, Pongal, Bihu, etc. The sun, the source of life on our planet, urges us to harness its energy during this important transitional time. Embracing the sun’s nourishing power through spiritual practices, such as pranayama and asana, is paramount all year round, but has enormous benefits when specially practiced at this time of the year. The auspicious time following Sankranti is ideal to meditate and elevate one's spiritual growth.
Surya Namaskar Yagya?
As Sankranti approaches, HSS (Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh) volunteers across the nation unite to channel their collective energies towards Surya Namaskar Yagya (SNY). One of HSS’s core principles is to strengthen our community’s collective mental and physical strength, and its volunteers wholeheartedly embrace this principle. HSS Sevaks and Sevikas (volunteers) dedicate their weekends and work days for the yagya (sacrifice) of serving humanity.
The significance of the 2024 SNY has been unprecedented. In his inaugural address at the national kickoff celebrations, Manneeya Saumitra ji reminded us of the lineage of Lord Rama as a Suryavanshi, a descendant of the sun lineage. The pran pratishtha (consecration) of Rama Lalla’s murti at Ayodhya, after a 500-year wait, was a momentous occasion in itself. What added to the festivity was the timing of the event. The pran pratishtha occured at an auspicious time of Surya Namaskar Yagya being conducted, when the sun’s blessings were being sought.
Free Community Sessions
Each year, free community Zoom sessions are conducted twice daily, lasting two weeks and three weekends. The focus on the specific sequence of asanas collectively known as Surya Namaskar
is emphasized. Volunteers play a pivotal role in demonstrating, correcting, educating, and helping master each asana in Surya Namaskar during these 15-minute sessions. Additionally, dozens of in-person outreach programs are organized across schools & colleges, parks, local organizations, and communities.
In 2024, free community Surya Namaskar sessions were held at the following locations.
Launch at HTSA
Parks and recreational centersSevika Lehar (Wave) over Zoom
Festival of Faiths
San Antonio Tamil Sangham
Conclusion at Aum Ashram
Accolades
Just a little nudge and a nice reminder to come and join to do yoga together goes a long way. In turn, the community has been generous in sharing their gratitude and appreciation. A couple of appreciations are shared (along with their original emojis) :
“Kudos to everyone who participated in the wellness event last Sunday ЁЯЩП It was indeed a one-of-a-kind event where we could see people of different ages participate and make it successful ЁЯТеЁЯФе
Special thanks to our Yoga Instructors “Kanthesh Upadhyay” ЁЯСП & “Harini Srinivasan” . ЁЯСП Your dedication & determination are truly inspiring ЁЯСМ Way to go ‼️”
“Thank you for leading such an impactful session. Every participant benefitted from your expertise, and we look forward to hosting more events like this in the future. Your support is truly appreciated. ЁЯЩПЁЯЩПЁЯЩПЁЯЩП”
SNY Resources
As of 2024, the 17th year of this initiative, the HSS IT department has made major upgrades to its free app “HSS US”. The app (accessible from a laptop and downloadable on both iOS and Android) enables individuals to check in and record their daily progress. To build momentum, upon reaching milestones, individuals receive personalized stickers featuring their photo, with an easy option to share on social media. This helps create healthy competition and community engagement. These resources are open to all and available to use all year round.
Desktop: https://sny.hssus.org/login
Mobile: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hss-us/id1493411628
Step-by-step guide to track count and use app: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5W_jJ9CYnI
2024 Stats
The numbers below are reflective of the counts of those who registered and logged in their counts. The actual numbers are much bigger than these.
Total Participants - 15
Total SuryaNamaskars 1327
SN by Sevikas (Females) 681
SN by Sevaks (Males) 646
As we bask in the success of this extraordinary endeavor, let us ensure that the momentum continues to surge forward. The onus lies on each one of us to carry forward the spirit and make these numbers far bigger next year.
The dedication and passion of our volunteers have laid the foundation for even greater achievements in the future. So, mark your calendars for the much-anticipated upcoming annual Guru Vandana celebrations. In May, volunteers will come together once again to pay tribute to the unsung heroes of our society, the teachers who mold and inspire the minds of tomorrow. In the meantime, we will continue to make a positive impact on the world around us, one Surya Namaskar at a time.
