Pose Dissection - Moon Salutations

Following along with our last three blogs dissecting Sun Salutations, this week's blog will cover Moon Salutations.

Like Sun Salutations honor the Sun, Moon Salutations (Chandra Namaskara) honor the energy of the moon.

Photo by Mark Tegethoff on Unsplash

Moon Salutations were first created in the 1980's by a group of instructors at Kripalu Yoga in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Sun Salutations, as well as the majority of yoga poses, were traditionally only practiced by males. This group wanted to open up the practice to women, who were growing increasingly interested in the practice of yoga. Hence, Moon Salutations came to be.

Moon Salutation is made up of seventeen (17) poses, as follows:

• Mountain Pose

• Half Moon Pose (Right Side)

• Goddess

• Five Pointed Star

• Triangle (Right Side)

• Pyramid with Arms Extended (Right Side)

• Low Crescent Lunge (Right Side)

• Side Lunge (Right Side)

• Yogi Squat

• Side Lunge (Left Side)

• Low Crescent Lunge (Left Side)

• Pyramid with Arms Extended (Left Side)

• Triangle (Left Side)

• Five Pointed Star

• Goddess

• Half Moon (Left Side)

• Mountain Pose

The Moon Salutation makes a full circle, if you will, cycling through the poses on one side, and then completing the same poses, in reverse order, on the opposite side - much like the phases of the moon.

Another primary difference between Sun Salutations and Moon Salutations is that while Sun Salutations are intended to fire up the body and awaken the mind, Moon Salutations are meant to calm the body and quiet the mind. For this reason, Moon Salutations are commonly practice before bedtime and with (or in place of) meditation.

Each phase of the moon has a different energy, which can be seen in the way the ocean tides change from one phase to another. Some aromatherapy oils that can enhance your moon salutations (by phase) are:

• New Moon: Cypress, Lavender, Bergamot, and Patchouli

• Waxing Crescent Moon: Ginger, Myrrh, Rosemary, and Coriander

• First Quarter Moon: Peppermint, Lemon, and Wintergreen

• Waxing Gibbous Moon: Thyme, Copaiba, Pine, Juniper, and Cedarwood

• Full Moon: Cardamon, Eucalyptus, Sandalwood, and Ylang Ylang

Those that like to incorporate crystals into their practice should give Selenite, Moonstone (duh), Amethyst, Labradorite, Clear Quartz, and Black Tourmaline a try, as well.

There has been a correlation between the phases of the moon and changes in human behavior noted for thousands of years, with increased anxiety or recklessness being the observed changes. Perhaps the calming Moon Salutations can lend a hand during these times.

-Charlene