Chandra Namaskar (Moon Salutations)
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Yoga Techniques and Fitness
Overview
In this lesson, we introduce Chandra Namaskar, a sequence designed to invoke cooler moon energy and cultivate receptivity and reflection.
Objective
Become familiar with Chandra Namaskar as a complementary practice to Surya Namaskar, including its purpose, effects, and appropriate applications.
What You'll Get
You'll learn a practice that invites the other half of the equation—cooling, receptive, lunar energy to balance the solar heat and drive of Sun Salutations. This explores why and when to practice Moon Salutations, how they support different constitutions and seasons, and what it means to connect with a more liquid, reflective energy. For personal practice, this gives you a tool for evenings, summer heat, or when you need to soften. For teachers, it expands your range and allows you to respond more skillfully to what your students need.
Sanskrit & Naming
Chandra Namaskar
- “chandra” = moon
- “namas” = bow to or adore
- Moon Salutation
MORE THAN A “SALUTATION”
The Sanskrit name Namaskar was slightly short-changed when it was translated to Salutation. The root of nama, meaning “to bow” and in some cases “not me,” tells a more meaningful story about the sequence’s original purpose. “Of course, it is a beautiful greeting, but it was also meant to be a transformative experience to release the burden of our personal obsessions and just come back to essence,” says Shiva Rea. – Yoga Journal
See Also
Introduction
- Chandra Namaskar is a particular sequence that features a “marriage of breath and movement,” a series of postures and transitions coordinated with a phase of the breath.
- Complementary to Surya Namaskar, Chandra Namaskar is a series of poses that invites a more cooling, relaxing energy.
- Chandra Namaskar may be considered a reflection of Surya Namaskar in the way the moon reflects the sun’s light.
- Each round of the sequences may begin and end with anjali mudra (palms together) at the heart. “This placement is no accident; only the heart can know the truth.” (Richard Rosen)
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