Chandra Namaskar (Moon Salutation)

Hi Everyone! Greetings from beautiful Cyprus!

This Video is a Chandra Namaskar (Moon Salutation).

Practicing a moon salutation instead of the classic sun salutation is a great way to honour the full moon in your yoga practice. In addition, this sequence is amazing to calm the body and the mind, inviting some “yin” energy into our lives.

Ηatha yoga is generally translated as the yoga of the sun (ha) and the moon (tha). This refers to the balance of two different energies within each of us: the sun refers to the masculine, active and hot energy, while the moon refers to the feminine, receptive and cool energy.

So basically, yoga is all about balancing these two energies, the flexibility and the strength, the body and the mind, the action and the reflexion. The moon is full of female energy. She represents wisdom, intuition and the cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation.

Her magnetic pull has a powerful effect on the ocean’s tides, and can even alter our own demeanor as our physical bodies are made up of 60% water.

If the moon affects the ocean’s tides, you better believe she has influence over us as she floats through her various cycles.

In addition to this first basic connexion between yoga and the moon, it is also important to mention that some yoga traditions like Ashtanga yoga (a Sun Salutation practice) recommend to abstain from practicing yoga during the full moon to honor the rhythms of nature.

Others, on the contrary, invite yoga practitioners to practice during the full moon to release what no longer serves them and plant seeds of intention for the new moon to come.

It’s indeed a great time to practice gentle yoga and open yourself up to receive all the celestial gifts the full moon has to offer.