Inti Raimi - Sunrise Ceremony
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This special morning ceremony may remind you of practices like Yoga, Qi Gong, or Tai Chi, which draw inspiration from nature’s rhythms and movements. Every motion in this practice carries a deeper spiritual meaning and purpose, designed to energize, center, and nourish you throughout your day. By embracing these sacred movements, you connect with the wisdom of the High Andes, aligning with its powerful, life-giving energy.
In Kichwa, Inti—Father Sun—represents the radiant force that nourishes all of life, offering light and warmth without discrimination. Without this vital energy, life as we know it would not exist. The Inti Raymi is a brief yet potent sunrise ritual that harmonizes us with the balanced energies of Father Sun, Mother Earth (Pachamama), and Grandmother Moon (Mama Killa). Through this practice, we honor and integrate the masculine and feminine energies within ourselves and the natural world. The movements in this ritual have been shared by elders of the High Andes, and I deeply honor and thank Jatun Taita Yachak Don Alberto Taxo, Taita Yachak Don Jacho Castelo, Taita Yachak Don Shairy Quimbo, and Taita Yachak Don Oscar Santillan*. With their wisdom and guidance, I have organized these sacred movements into a sequence that maximizes their effectiveness. While there are many more traditional movements, these ten exercises offer a simple yet profound way to start your day feeling grounded, balanced, and revitalized. In the Andean tradition, people rise early, around 4:00 or 4:30 am, to greet the sunrise. At high altitudes, where the air is thin and nights are cold, these movements awaken and warm the body, preparing it for the day’s work. Beyond their spiritual significance, these exercises also strengthen the legs, enhance lung capacity, activate the digestive system, and improve balance—essential qualities for those living and working in the steep Andean mountains. Feel free to incorporate this sacred practice into your daily routine as a gift from the Andes, connecting with gratitude and openness to the energy of the new day. |
General instructions: |
Watch the entire nine exercises - Taken at Kripalu Institute.
This video was taken in Wilga, Poland.
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1. Watch the Full Routine: Familiarize yourself with all ten movements by watching the demonstration at the Kripalu Institute video on my site or YouTube.
2. Face East: Perform all exercises while facing East to honor the rising sun—Tayta Inti. 3. Begin with the Left Leg: The left side connects with the heart, symbolizing the nurturing feminine energy, while the right side embodies the active masculine energy. 4. Breathing: Inhale deeply through your nose, drawing in fresh morning air, and exhale through your mouth, releasing stagnant energy. 5. Repetitions: Perform each movement as many times as feels right for you. Traditionally, each exercise is done 26 times, symbolizing the 26 vertebrae of the spine, dedicating one movement to each vertebra. But always listen to and honor your body. 6. Clothing & Footwear: Wear loose, comfortable clothing. If possible, practice barefoot to connect with the Earth’s grounding energy. * * * Before we start, stand facing the rising sun. Imagine you are a condor waking up after a cold and wet night. Close your eyes. Lift your arms and let the new sun's rays dry your feathers. * * * 1. Welcome the Sun Getting ready to fly Stand facing the rising sun, imagining yourself as a condor perched on a cliff, awakening from a misty cold night. Close your eyes, lift your arms, and feel the warmth of the new sun energizing each feather, and your body preparing you to soar. 2. Polishing your energy shield Stand with legs apart, knees slightly bent. Exhale deeply and bend forward down, scooping the morning dew with both hands. Straighten your legs, inhale, and lift your arms above your head, offering this fresh energy to the Father Sun. Lower your palms over your head, shoulders, and body, visualizing a luminous shield being polished and strengthened. 3. Lung cleansing During our sleep, mucus accumulates in the lungs. Clear it out to breath more oxidant . Stand with legs apart. Inhale deeply as you turn left, tapping strongly on your left rib cage with your right hand. Exhale strongly as you turn right, tapping strongly the right rib cage with your left hand. When mucus get loose and arises, step aside and spit it out. Repeat. 4. Invigorate your neck and shoulders Loosen the stiffness from sleep. Stand with legs apart. Inhale as you turn left, tapping the area where your neck meets your shoulder with your right hand. Exhale as you turn right, tapping the other side with your left hand. Repeat. 5. Balancing act Balance naturally declines with age, so this movement helps maintain stability. Balance on your left leg and cross your right leg over it, forming a figure four. Inhale, lifting your arms to the sun. Exhale, bending forward while gathering energy from the Mother Earth. Rise again, inhaling as you offer this energy to the sun. Switch legs and repeat. 6. Sun Offerings Step forward with your left leg, bending your knees. Exhale and scoop energy from the earth. Inhale as you rise, stepping back on your left toes, stretching the arch of your foot, and arching your spine as you raise your arms to offer the energy to the sun. Switch legs and repeat. 7. Life’s Cycle Representing sunrise, sunset, life, death, and rebirth. Step forward with your left leg, bending your knees. Exhale, scooping Mother Earth’s energy from your right side. Inhale as you turn to face the West, stepping back on your left leg while lifting your hands toward *Mama Killa*, the moon. Bend down and exhale deeply. Switch legs and repeat. 8. Devotion Bringing Tayta Inti’s love energy to your heart. Lunge forward with your left leg while exhaling, reaching your hands toward the sun. Grasp Tayta Inti’s energy and bring it powerfully to your heart as you call his name aloud. Repeat on both sides. 9. Polishing and Protecting Your Luminous Body Stand with legs apart, knees bent. Inhale deeply, turning left with extended arms as if holding a large ball. Swing side to side in a wide circle while exhaling, visualizing a protective light shield surrounding your body. 10. Sun Meditation Final prayer and intention-setting. Balance on your toes, heels together, knees bent sideways. Lift your hands in front of your third eye, forming a “window” with your palms (index fingers and thumbs touching). Softly gaze at the sun, breathing naturally, and set an intention for the day. If you have knee issues, simply stand straight. Embrace this ritual as a gift from the Andes, allowing it to infuse your mornings with vitality, gratitude, and alignment with the energies of the earth and sky. |