Vinyasa and most Hatha Yoga styles in general begin with sun salutations. This is how we warm our bodies, increasing our heart rate to get our blood and oxygen moving. It is an opportunity to establish a rhythm to our breath paired movement, allowing the breath to set itself up. Think of a band, the drummer starts the beat of the song to get the rhythm established and that beat becomes to heart of the song as the other instruments join in and do their magic. Sun Salutations give us information about where our bodies and minds are at that day, allowing us to understand how to adjust our practice. Here is a quick article talking about he benefits of sun salutations and the key postures that make up a traditional Sun Salutation A.
By Laura Waite