Moon Salutations: Yoga Poses To Align With Lunar Cycles

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Very evident from the name itself, sun salutations are what most people do for energy. And as the name implies, moon salutations are for cooling down. Also called Chandra Namaskar, this series will help you to relax, become stress-free, and also rejuvenate. The 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh is one of the few courses, which help you to learn and master the salutations. If you practice moon salutations during the moon cycles, you get all the more benefitted.

There are many poses in moon salutations, as many as fourteen of them. Chandra Namaskar or moon salutations consist of simple poses as well as advanced ones. As a part of the exclusive 500 hrs program in yoga, you can learn about all of them in detail.

The Moon Salutations – Yoga In India

In Moon salutations, the poses will just flow from one to another, and there is minimal hold time. The poses that you can do individually are Tadasana, Anjaneyasana, Parsvottanasana, Utkata Konasana, Utthita Trikonasana, Malasana, Ardha Chandrasana, and Skandasana, to name a few.

Let us learn more about the above poses as a part of Chandra Namaskar.

Tadasana – This is a pose which is easy and omnipresent in almost all yoga forms. Basically the mountain pose, anyone can do it. There are no dynamic movements in this pose, but balance is the key. And as you balance yourself in this pose, your focus and mental agility also gets enhanced manifold.
Anjaneyasana – Also called the crescent low lunge, it stretches and also strengthens the front and back side of the body. Your focus is on the alignment of the legs and your hips, in this deep stretching pose. If you can accomplish this pose, then it paves the way for centre splits and front splits as well.
Utkata Konasana – Also called as Goddess pose, it is a very deep hip opener, which requires actively engaging the core muscles and the pelvic floor muscles. You can also release your emotional baggage through the practice of this asana.
Utthita Trikonasana – It is an extended Triangle pose, which requires more flexibility of the hip muscles and the abdominal sides. Your torso is twisted in this asana or pose.
Malasana – This is a great pose, for those who have digestive and reproductive issues. It is a deep groin opener.
Ardha Chandrasana – This is also called the Half Moon pose. It is a standing pose, in which you are required to balance one half of the body with your hands. This is a mixture of energies derived from the moon as well as the sun. If you suffer from posture imbalances, this can do good.
Skandasana – This is a side lunge, in which you get to stretch each side completely. It is a hip opener and a heart opener, as well.

Benefits Of Moon Salutations During Lunar Cycles

You get lots of benefits, when you do the poses in a sequence of flow. The various benefits are:

You get to open the hip and groin area, when you practice Moon Salutations.
They also help in opening the heart chakra or Anahata chakra.
Thirdly, moon salutations as taught in yoga in India, also helps in balancing all the chakras. You get benefitted from the root to your crown.
The practice of moon salutations benefits the females, in a huge way.
If you suffer from sleep disorders, this is particularly beneficial.

Most often, you will be doing sun salutations in the beginning of the yoga classes, and moon salutations after the class for cooling. However, you can also do the poses under moon salutations as a separate class. Doing a couple of rounds on a full moon night is particularly beneficial. Learn about the poses in the 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh.

Conclusion

At Kundalini Yoga Ashram, you will get the right training in performing the moon salutation poses for maximum benefits. So, go ahead and join in.