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The sun keeps us alive
Light, warmth, food and the rhythm of our days all come from the sun. Because it rises every morning, we forget to value it. We want to change that.
A movement that starts at sunrise
SUN IT UP is a Pune-born movement that helps people build a relationship with the sun, the one thing all life depends on, through Surya Namaskar. For students and first-timers, grandparents and lifelong practitioners.
Our mission
To help people reconnect with the sun every day, and thank it, through Surya Namaskar: with movement, with breath and with gratitude.
What we believe
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Three ways, one salute
Surya Namaskar can be movement, breath or gratitude. Each one is a way of greeting the sun, and each one counts.
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Heritage, made relevant
Surya Namaskar carries generations of meaning. We explain it simply and show why it fits modern life.
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Everyone is welcome
Any age, any fitness level, any background. Move standing or on a chair, breathe, or simply say thank you. Start where you are.
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Practice beats theory
Reading about it is good. Doing it, regularly, is the point.
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Together is better
A shared morning practice builds friendships and keeps us going.
What we do
- A 5-video series: learn the asanas, chant to the sun, meditate with the sun, gratitude to the sun, and the benefits and history of Surya Namaskar.
- A Community Kit so colleges, housing societies, workplaces, clubs and senior citizens' groups can share the series with their members.
- A WhatsApp Community where everyone who practises stays connected, shares their mornings and gets updates.
- A pledge and practice tracker to help people build a lasting habit.
- Reels, stories and updates on Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp.
A note from our Initiative Lead
The vision behind SUN IT UP
The Sun has shaped my life for as long as I can remember. It rises every day with the same steady presence, and that constancy has taught me discipline, Tejasvipana (the radiance and inner brilliance it carries) and generosity, because it shines on everyone alike. When its warmth touches my skin, I feel a quiet joy, a closer bond with the world around me, and gratitude.
My Guru's lineage traces back to the Surya Vansh, the Solar Dynasty, and on that path I have come to see the Sun as a symbol of life, consciousness and the energy within us. Even my father's name means the Sun.
As a gynaecologist and natural birthing expert, I have spent my working life in awe of nature's intelligence: conception, the wisdom of the womb, the journey of birth. My love for trees and plants grows from the same respect for the life force that sustains us.
Yet in our busy lives, many of us have drifted away from the source that gives us life and energy. SUN IT UP is my attempt to bring us back to it. Through Surya Namaskar, a word of thanks to the Sun and a few aware minutes each day, I hope people will pause, turn towards the Sun and feel that energy again. Moving the body is a start. What I hope to awaken is a feeling of gratitude, vitality and reverence for nature.
Sometimes the greatest transformations begin with the simplest gestures.
Let's rise with the Sun, move with life and bring our inner light alive.
SUN IT UP: a movement to reconnect with our source, one sunrise at a time.
Dedicated to my Guru, Yogiraj Siddhanath (Gurunath), and to my father, Dr Sudhakar Petkar.
The people behind it
- [Photo]
Ritu Petkar
Initiative Lead - [Photo]
Arha Doijode
Project Lead - [Photo]
Tulip Petkar
Planning & Strategy Lead
Ready to rise with us?
Take the pledge