1. They prevent MS and other auto immune disorders. That's according to Rammurti S. Mishra, MD. (The information can be found in his book Fundamentals of Yoga.) Sun Salutations are especially beneficial to women because they are affected with MS in greater numbers than men.
2. They're good for the spine. Sun salutations work the five movements of the spine – flexion (forward bend), extension (back bend), lateral flexion (side to side), axial rotation (twisting), axial extension (lengthen & straighten) keeping the the spine strong and supple.
3. They build upper body strength. Most people (and this includes men) do not have good upper body strength.
4. They burn off calories. Sun Salutations are the yoga version of aerobic exercise. If you don't believe that, try doing them the traditional way which mean doing them 108 times in a row.
5. They contribute to peace of mind by increasing the quantity of serotonin - the 'good mood' neurotransmitters in the brain.
6. They lead to muscle gain, body toning and weight loss – an ideal combination.
7. They contribute to healthier bone density because Sun Salutations are a weight bearing activity.
8. They improve lung health because Sun Salutations make the lungs work harder teaching them to use available oxygen efficiently.
9. They work the entire body. Unlike weights which isolate specific muscles while excluding others, Sun Salutations work more than 90% of the body.
10. They stimulate virtually every system in the body - the cardiovascular system, the digestive system, the lymphatic system, the nervous and the respiratory system.
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