Fitness Challenge: Sun Salutations

Depending on the style of yoga you practice, you might go to class for years and never do a single sun salutation.  I teach Vinyasa Flow yoga which links movement to breath, and sun salutations are a big part of the practice.  Even if yoga is not your thing, sun salutations can help you warm up for other activities.

Full salutations can be challenging because they require a lot of wrist, arm, and core strength.  I've had very fit active duty folks struggle with Chaturanga (Four-Limbed Staff Pose) and Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward-Facing Dog) because keeping the arms close to the body requires a lot of tricep strength not used in regular push-ups.

Use the modified version to build up your strength. Grab a fellow military spouse to see if you both can complete this challenge, when you have one full sun salutation film it and post the 15-second (or less) video to Facebook or Instagram using #idfitnesschallenge.

Complete one unmodified sun salutation. You may be able to do this today, or you may need to work up to it over the course of weeks or months, building strength with modified sun salutations.