Moon Salutations, Chandra Namaskar

 By Mark Goldstein

Many who practice yoga are familiar with a series of posture we call “Sun Salutations”. This set of postures includes our Warrior poses (see Quepolandia article Warrior Pose November, 2011).

In many cultures the sun is seen as a very male energy, and is linked to things that are more aggressive and forceful. The moon on the other hand is regarded as a female entity and is described having a more gentle and yielding force. Sun salutations are very common in yoga, you will encounter them in almost any class that is practicing a form of Vinyassa Flow, Hatha or any other type of active yoga.

Traditionally Sun Salutations are performed facing the east at sunrise so that we can welcome the sun and gather our strength for the coming day.  Of course we can, and do, practice sun salutations during any part of the day and they are still very worthwhile.

There is a lesser known and equally wonderful sequence of yoga postures called the Moon Flow, or Chandra Namaskar, and that is what we will be going over in this edition of Costa Rica Yoga Journal, for Quepolandia. Our pose of the months (this is a double issue) is the Moon Salutation.

Unfortunately I do not have the space to go over the whole sequence and the details needed to do it, rather we will go over some of the general points, and picture a few of the poses. Of course I am very happy to teach you the sequence if you are interested.

Moon salutations move side to side for the most part. Sun salutations move forward and back (See “To Flow or not to Flow”, Quepolandia May, 2012).

In our moon salutation we practice poses such as Half Moon, Goddess, Side Angle, and Triangle. The poses in this sequence use our whole body, and center more on the middle of our bodies: our hips, hamstrings and sides. These poses are also more about yielding to gravity, and less about using our strength to lift or extend.

Are the poses in our Moon salutation “easier” because of this? Not really. There is plenty of challenge offered.

Are Moon salutations more for women? Now that’s a silly question, who asked that? In many cases this will be MORE challenging for men, if only for the fact that we are relying more on opening up and less on our strength, so in a way these poses are MORE important for men to practice.

It is important to move slowly through and methodically through this sequence, and as always we follow our breath. Since we are more planted into the ground in these moves, remember gravity, we move slower, stronger and peacefully through our moon salutations.

I offer private yoga instruction here at our retreat in Manuel Antonio (Prana Rainforest Retreat) and can also come to you. A private class can be a one time one on one experience, or it can be a small group that meets several times. I love to teach, and would enjoy the chance to be a part of your yoga practice.

Thanks for reading, and see if you might enjoy connecting yourself to the energy of the moon. Namaste.