A Yogathon for All

BY MANDAR PATTEKAR

My introduction to Surya Namaskar was at a very early age. Every morning I used to wake up hearing sounds of students reciting the thirteen names of the Sun on the primary school playground opposite my house, as they performed a series of yoga postures in a rhythmic fashion to the beats of a bass drum. My grandmother insisted that I learn to do the same sequence correctly and memorize the thirteen names of the Sun describing its various attributes. Overtime, the simple sequence of yoga postures had become part of my regular morning routine. I was pleasantly surprised when in 2007, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) launched the Surya Namaskar Yagna (sun salutation offering yogathon) campaign to raise awareness of this effective but simple exercise sequence, for the benefit of the general masses, and correct the misperception of yoga in America being somewhat of an elitist activity.

Every year, the period of fifteen days, starting from the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti (January 14^th), when the sun enters the Sagittarius constellation, and ending on Ratha Saptami, the 7^th day after the new moon, is selected for a concentrated effort to maximize the outreach and share the benefits of the regular practice of Surya Namaskar to the American masses. Community organizations, general places of gathering, places of employment, schools, and colleges have been involved in this activity. To make the promotion more interesting and participatory, the number of Surya Namaskar performed by individuals are maintained using a user-friendly SNY app. This year, 12,676 individuals logged a total of 728,795 Surya Namaskars into the SNY app. The project reached 34 schools with 3,004 students and teachers participating.

This year, 12,676 individuals logged a total of 728,795 Surya Namaskars into the SNY app. (Representational Image) | Unsplash

A cursory search on the internet will unearth an extensive treasure trove of research on the benefit of Surya Namaskar for interested individuals, including benefits on the entire neuro glandular and neuromuscular systems of the body and the entire psychosomatic human constitution. An interesting perspective was given to me by a friend who said that given the paucity of time available for a busy individual like him, performing Surya Namaskar was an all-rounded efficient exercise that stretched and toned all the major muscle groups of the body, burned calories, and added a spiritual side to exercise. Performing Surya Namaskar daily in the morning, along with your spouse and children, also brings the entire family together at the start of the day, at least for a short duration of time.

I was asked by a colleague whether Surya Namaskar was a religious activity. I explained that Surya Namaskar was a humanistic activity. Offering namaskar (which is more than just a simple salutation) to the sun was an expression of gratitude to the divine. In every religious tradition, the sense of Gratitude is looked upon as a very positive mental state. The term 'Yagna' in the name of the Surya Namaskar campaign also has a deep meaning. Yagna means sacrifice or offering. Instead of the exercise being a self-centered activity for our own betterment, performing Surya Namaskar with a mental state of offering it to the divine, in the form of the Sun, transforms it into a spiritual activity. The well-balanced movements, with an ordered breathing sequence facing the rising sun (whenever possible), contrasts with my other exercise routines that are performed in the gym, while staring at my own reflection or a television screen.

The last few years, my wife taught Surya Namaskar at an underserved school in my hometown of Peoria before the interruption of the COVID epidemic. Every week different classes performed the yoga routine, followed by a spiritual breathing exercise called Pranayam. One beauty of Surya Namaskar was that it only requires a small space of 3 feet by 6 feet, without the use of any equipment. The children at the school were greatly enthusiastic, and an anecdotal report suggested that many have continued the practice. This has been repeated over multiple years, which interestingly would be the first and possibly the only exposure of these children to the benefits of yoga. In the future, when the children grow up to be adults, they will have fond memories of Surya Namaskar and will continue to learn and practice it.

One beauty of Surya Namaskar was that it only requires a small space of 3 feet by 6 feet, without the use of any equipment. (Representational Image) | Unsplash

My younger daughter's high school JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) physical training team also performed Surya Namaskar as a warm-up routine at competitions, even after she graduated from the program. As the cadets stood in a long line, performing the series of movements and counting in unison, while other teams watched in curiosity, there was a sense of unity that energized the team and prepared them for the competition to come.

This year, Health for Humanity Yogathon has been acknowledged by numerous elected representatives and has received 129 proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congresspersons, and United States Senators. It was also recognized as a part of Congressional records in 2017. Acknowledging the benefit to the American community from this campaign, the 'Let's Move' initiative of the then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012.

Whether Surya Namaskar is used as a family activity, health initiative in underserved areas, or a warm-up for a sport, there are undoubtedly significant physical, mental, and spiritual benefits to the exercise, and we must share it for the benefit of society. The slogan yoga for health, health for humanity is aptly put in practice by the Surya Namaskar Yagna. I am sure Surya Namaskar will be a regular routine and one of the prime jewels offered as a gift by the ancient Hindu culture to the rest of the humanity.

Mandar Pattekar MD is a retired physician who is interested in the sewa pertaining to the field of education and hunger in urban underserved areas. He lives in Peoria IL with wife and children. He has previously published in The Community word, American Kahani, medium.com. His writings can be seen on his website pattekar.org.

(Keywords: Yoga, surya namaskar, yogathon, human movements)