Surya Namaskar is Not Yoga

Why Surya Namsakar has no roots in Yoga.

A Soul-Searching Look at What We Are Really Practicing

Introduction Walk into almost any studio in the world, and the ritual is the same. We begin with the Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation). We flow fast, we generate heat, and we are told this is the ancient foundation of practice.

But there is a question we rarely ask ourselves in the midst of the sweat: Is this truly Yoga, or is it just exercise?

At Yogveda, we have made the conscious decision to step away from this tradition. It is not because we disrespect the past, but because we are committed to the truth of the human body.

The History We Were Never Told

It is uncomfortable to deconstruct our habits, but growth requires truth. The Sun Salutation sequence—the Plank, the Chaturanga, the Upward Dog—is not a 5,000-year-old Vedic prayer.

Historical records show it was synthesized in the early 20th century in the Mysore Palace, blending traditional prostrations with British Calisthenics and Indian Wrestling (Akhada) drills.

Its original purpose was noble, but specific: to build muscle, aggression, and "heat" for teenage warriors. It is linear, repetitive, and designed to exhaust the body. It is Vyayama (Gymnastik), not Asana (Posture).

Heat vs. Light

When we begin our practice with rapid, linear movements, we stimulate the Rajasic energy—the energy of passion, movement, and ego. We feel strong. We feel "worked out."

But the soul does not want to be worked out; it wants to be worked in.

Real Yoga requires a quieting of the nervous system, not an agitation of it. We cannot enter the silence of the Self while the heart is racing and the mind is counting repetitions. We are seeking Prana (Light), not just Sweat (Heat).

The Yogveda Kriya: The Medical Evolution

If we remove the wrestling drill, what takes its place? We replace the linear with the spherical. We replace the aggression with engineering. This is the Yogveda Kriya—a 45-minute medical preparation.

1. From Friction to Lubrication

Instead of grinding the joints to create heat, we use gentle rotations to stimulate synovial fluid. We prepare the joint capsule before we ever place a load upon it.

2. Netra Vyayam (The Eye Series)

Tension often hides where we least expect it—in the optic nerve. By including specific eye exercises, we signal safety to the brain, allowing the hamstrings and spine to release without force.

3. The Spherical Body

The Sun Salutation moves only forward and backward. But nature is not linear; it is spherical. We move in spirals and circles to unlock the full, multidimensional potential of the spine.

(Note: To practice these precise movements safely, stability is everything. This is why we use only high-grip engineering mats, not soft foam.)

An Invitation to Depth

We can read about water, or we can drink it. The difference between a wrestling drill and a healing art cannot be explained in a blog post—it must be felt in your own tissue.

We are not asking you to blindly believe us. We are asking you to feel the difference for yourself.

Are you ready to stop working out and start healing?

👉 Experience the Method (Join a Class)

Are you ready to stop repeating myths and start mastering the truth? For those few who wish to understand the deep anatomy and history behind the practice:

👉 Study with the University (Teacher Training)

Author, Master Shahid Khan