“A few years ago we had a woman at our retreat who told us a story i have recounted to many students since. There was a man in her yoga class (in Ohio) who was very stiff and tight. the teacher suggested he do 3-5 Surya Namaskara each day. He stopped coming to class. When he showed up a few years later  his body had quite changed, becoming more supple, flexible and strong. The teacher asked what he had done! Like many of us who teach. she did not remember telling him to do this as we speak to many people and it had been some time. ” Why”, he said ” I have been doing Surya Namsakra 3- 5 times a day every day as you told me to.” I think that about sums it up! Pattabhi Jois, the ashtanga master, said after age 50 ( i am 55 and doing much more than only these) if you can do nothing more do the Surya Namaskaras every day.”

- Donna Davidge, A Yoga Instructor wrote on February 7, 2010 From Sewall House Yoga Retreat, Maine

“Surya Namaskar is a wonderful technique to limber up the body.  It can be used as a purely physical exercise, or even better, it can be used as a method of worship, chanting the 12 different names of Surya, the Sun Deity, while the different poses are held.  This develops a sense of wonder and appreciation of the world, and opens the heart.

Modern science considers the Sun to be just a big mass of burning hydrogen and helium.  But the ancient Hindus regarded the Sun with great reverence.  The Sun is really the greatest Yogi – he gives and gives and gives without ever asking anything in return.  If the Sun were even to take a break for five minutes, we would all be dead.  Worshipping Surya through Surya Namaskar, Surya, who is the intelligence at the basis of the incredible energy of the Sun at thus all life on Earth, is a path to inner illumination.  Or, as I said, it can just be enjoyed as a terrifc way to limber up in the morning.”

- Craig Edwards wrote on January 30, 2010 from Sai Temple, Austin TX

“I am doing Surya Namaskar everyday and I am having a fantastic experience which I want to share with you. I am measuring the calories burnt with every Surya Namaskar. The first Surya Namaskar burns around 5 calories and this burn rate increases every time. So by the time we reach the last one in set  it comes to around 15 calories. So, in total one set of 13 Surya Namaskar burns around 80-100 calories. I feel much more energetic and flexible now. With Surya Namaskar and some light exercises I lost 2 pounds in last 2 weeks. This was a fantastic experience and best way so far to loose weight.”

- Abhita Gupta wrote on January 25, 2010 from Naperville, IL

“I teach a meditation class in a men’s minimum security prison near Austin TX. One of my class members (that is, an inmate) saw the advertisement about the marathon in Hinduism Today and asked me to help them register for the event. We have 6 men in our practice center. In advance of the day we practiced the Surya Namaskar to make sure they knew how. We watched the DVD with the demo. They started independently on Saturday January 17th. I meet with them on Monday nights and we do them together as a class. All other days it is up to them individually to find a time and place to do as many sun salutations as they will. Imagine being in a prison where first you have to be willing to stand out a bit to do this exercise surrounded by other prisoners and second by participating in this marathon you get to be a part of something much larger than yourself that extends way beyond the walls. All of these men, and in fact over 90% of prisoners, will be released to the world eventually. I teach them meditation to help sustain them through the hard times inside and give them a tool to use when they get out. I am delighted to now also be able to introduce this practice of daily Surya Namaskar to them. I hope it travels with them wherever they go. Namaste, Nancy.”

- Nancy Maclaine wrote on January 21, 2009 from Austin, TX