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

• Asana Categories
• General Alignment Principles
• Alignment Cueing

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)