This term we will learn the Egyptian sun salute. For those of you who came last term you will notice some similarities (the start) and some differences (lime 8 pose, plank, lunges and cobra).
The context of Egyptian yoga
Ancient Egypt is one of our oldest and perhaps most advanced civilizations. They invent many things, from mathematics to metallurgy and from astronomy to paper. I still remember a small gold model from the V&A in London that looked as much like a fighter plane as one could imagine. Things like this and the grace in their standing poses made me very curious about what they have to teach us.
Looking at ancient hieroglyphics, you can see many similarities to “our” yoga: kneeling twists, cobra, fish pose, goddess. Egyptian yoga was studied and developed by translating the hieroglyphs of the temples and is frequently known as Kemetic yoga. Kemet is the region covered by ancient Egypt in Northeast Africa.
Visual challenge
Check out the incredible photo below
-
- Do you see the stability of their poses, there is a heaviness and yet also a lightness. Is it strength and flexibility?
- Can you see the tone and alignment visible in front of their body. and I now know that it concerns their spine and muscular balance. The balance of the muscles also gives flexibility and freedom of movement?
- Do you see the lightness of their diaphragms, which allows their spine to lengthen?
- Can you look closely and find clues to understand their physical discipline and how we can imitate it.
If you don’t see these things, don’t worry, but be curious. Next time you go to the museum, just try imitating some of the poses of the statues and notice how you feel.
Egyptian salute to the sun
You start in Tadasana (mountain pose), fold forward, then bring one leg back to a low lunge. You slide your other black leg onto the board, then you rest like a stretched out child. From there, you approach the cat, then lower the back of your waist to the cow. From here we come to 8-limb pose – where you bring your chest and chin to the floor. The 8 limbs are: 2 hands, 2 feet, 2 knees, your chest and your chin. From 8-limbed pose, slide into cobra pose, then return to dog pose. From dog pose to low lunge, forward fold, return to tadasana before doing the other side.
The benefits of the Egyptian sun salutation
The Egyptian Sun Salutation is fantastic for the physical body. This will improve your physical flexibility and strength. This version of Salute to the Sun is ideal for:
-
- your spine, there are many movements back and forth to free your spine
- your hips, deep lungs will really release this
- strength, both in your arms and core as you enter and exit 8-limb pose
The benefits of Egyptian yoga for the soul!
Is the Egyptian Sun Salute good for how you feel? Of course. Like yoga, Egyptian yoga simulates your parasympathetic nervous system. Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system brings increased calm and ease which allows the mind and soul to heal and regenerate.
Want to know more?
Go visit the NMS and see for yourself
Visit Pinterest for inspiration
Learn about Kemetic Yoga and its background
And above all? Come learn Egyptian yoga with me! Looking forward to seeing an array of awesome sphinxes this term!