What Is a Yoga Sun Salutation and How Do I Do It?

Start in a standing position with big toes touching and heels slightly apart; outer edges of feet are parallel. Relax arms on either side of body, palms open in a gesture of receptivity. This is Tadasana, also known as mountain pose. Each breath will have a move.

Inhale, lifting arms out and up, and take palms together to form a prayer over head.

Exhale, taking prayer down the midline of the body while diving down to a forward bend.

Inhale, coming to a long flat spine with fingertips on the ground, or if you need more space, hands on shins (pictured).

Exhale, plant palms shoulder distance apart on the ground, and jump back to Chatturanga (hold body halfway between plank and the ground, like a triceps push-up, where elbows graze rib cage). If this is not manageable, step back to plank and lower to Chatturanga.

Inhale, pulling chest through arms and coming to the tops of feet for upward-facing dog.

Exhale, flipping over toes, lifting hips—keeping legs long—and pressing chest back between arms. Reach heels towards the ground for downward-facing dog. (Optional: Breathe here for three to five breaths.)

Inhale, coming high to the balls of feet, softening knees, and looking between hands. Exhale, piking hips up and jumping to the front of the mat. (Step feet one at a time to the front of the mat if jumping isn't healthy for your body.) Inhale to a long flat spine, and exhale to a forward bend.

Inhale, hinging from hips with a long spine to come up to stand, doing a reverse swan dive to bring arms all the way up to high prayer, above head. Exhale prayer to the center of chest. Breathe here. This is one round. Try completing five full rounds.