Moon Salutations or Chandra Namaskar – Yoga Fundamentals Series
SAVY Yoga has been serving the city of London and surrounding areas since 2011. To serve the people London in a better way, instead of serving some run-of-the-mill pseudo-yoga routines, we offer some very useful, true Yoga/ Pranayama routines, ranging from gentle to very challenging routines, for a beginner to an advanced student alike. Here, we bring to you a new series of classes on Yoga Fundamentals which introduce you and clarify to you the benefits of authentic traditional ashtanga Yoga.
Through demonstration, discussion and experiential movement, you will gain key understanding of proper posture and how to keep your body safe. As common sense dictates, one can function properly only if one is disease-free and is in a healthy state of body, mind and spirit. So, for us, your health and disease-free state comes first of all. We firmly believe Yoga is much beyond mere gymnastics and sauna!
London Yoga Classes at SAVY bring you the taste, values and expertise of the true traditional Ashtanga and Vinyasa Yoga from India. Inspired adherence to eight pillars or steps of yoga bestow one with a calm mind and fit body and lead one towards attaining moksha or liberation for an emancipated life. In more physical or materialistic terms, Yoga is more than capable of keeping one physically and mentally fit and disease-free. It has become the new hot and favored way to sweat it out. Yoga Fundamentals is a step in that direction.
Moon Salutations or Chandra Namaskar
Yogic texts have long acknowledged that the body has both heating and cooling energies and that yoga and pranayama (breathwork) can help bring them into a balanced harmony. Although, Chandra Namaskar or the moon salutation is not as popular as Surya Namaskar, it has wonderful benefits of its own. Chandra Namaskar is a series of 17 yogasanas, which form a good warm up session, before beginning yoga practice, or can help you in unwinding after a long day at work, and can be practiced as your evening restorative yoga session. Sun Salutations or Surya Namaskar builds up heat in the system, and Moon Salutations or Chandra Namaskar cools it down. It is yoga postures, breathing, mindfulness, meditation, bandhas, gaze, alignment etc – all rolled in one! It can help to replenish our vital energy. Shiva Samhita calls Chandra Namsakar a source of immortality!
As the name suggests, Chandra Namaskar is a soothing and quieting sequence that invites you to bow to and cultivate the moon’s soothing lunar energy. This kind of practice is beneficial for men and women who are under any stress. It is a great way to balance your energy before you get to the point of exhaustion. Chandra Namaskar is a quieting practice and it is done with mantra chanting. The associated mantras work with feminine, creative, cooling lunar energies, recognising their importance and paying homage to them. In the body, they run in the ida nadi, or left channel representing consciousness and mind.
It is essential that you prepare your mind and body before you begin. Stand straight and keep you feet together. Your hands should be by your side and you should breathe gently, focusing on your inhalation and exhalation. Bring your awareness to the pattern of your breathing. All the yoga postures should be in sync with your breath. Avoid any kind of discord between your breathing and the asana. Gradually bring your awareness to the point between the eyebrows, at the level of agya chakra. Visualise the moon and its soft, gentle light there. Slowly, let the awareness fade away and gradually bring your focus to the body.
Sequence of Poses in Chandra namaskara
One of the more common variations available is described here.
First half of the series:
- Pranamasana / prayer pose
- Hasta utthanasana / raised arm posture
- Padhastasana / hand to foot pose
- Ashwa sanchalanasana / equestrian pose
- Ardha chandrasana / half moon pose
- Parvatasana / mountain posture
- Ashtanga Namaskara / salutation with eight parts of the body
- Bhujangasana / cobra posture
- Parvatasana / mountain pose
- Ashwa sanchalanasana / equestrian pose
- Ardha chandrasana / half moon pose
- Padhastasana / hand to foot pose
- Hasta utthanasana / raised arms pose
- Pranamasana / prayer pose
Second half of the series:
The backward stretched leg positions in Ashwa sanchalanasana are done by reversing the earlier sequence. This means that in the second half, instead of stretching the right foot backward, stretch the left. And the second time in the sequence, bend the right leg and bring the right foot between the hands.
- Pranamasana
- Hasta utthanasana
- Padhastasana
- Ashwa sanchalasana
- Ardha chandrasana
- Parvatasana
- Ashtanga namaskara
- Bhujangasana
- Parvatasana
- Ashwa sanchalasana
- Ardhachandrasana
- Padhastana
- Hasta Utthanasana
- Pranamasana
Moon salutation is best practiced outdoors on moonlit night.
Benefits of Chandra Namaskar
- Practise of moon salutation on full moon days can help in balancing and calming down fiery energies.
- It helps to channelize creative energies.
- Stretching and strengthening of the thigh muscles, calves, pelvis, and ankles, mainly the lower body.
- It also helps activate root chakra.
- Moon salutation is beneficial to people under stress and anxiety.
- It helps balance your energy before you reach a point of exhaustion, as it is a quieting practice.
- It promotes balance, digestion, tones the spine, expands lungs and opens the Heart Chakra.
- It improves blood circulation
- Brings mental clarity by oxygenating the blood more effectively
- Benefits all the visceral organs
- Keeps intestinal tract well regulated and healthy
- Stimulates spinal nerves
- Stretches leg and back muscles
- Cures sexual ailments
- Improves flexibility prior to childbirth.
- It also relaxes sciatic nerves
- Improves confidence
- Tones pelvic muscles
- Regulates functioning of adrenal glands
- Relieves constipation and anger
- Helps in maintaining balance ida and pingala
- Helps develop a healthy sense of poise and respect for mind and body.
Difference between Surya Namaskar and Chandra Namaskar
One of the major differences in the sun and moon salutations is that the latter is always performed in a rather slow and relaxed manner, while the former is done in several different forms. The Chandra Namaskar is done only for a limited number of times.
The Chandra Namaskara begins on the left side and then continues on the right, as the left side represents the ‘ida nadi’ or the moon, while the right side represents the ‘pingala nadi’ or the sun.
You are most welcome to learn this routine and stay healthy.
This series will be held every month. Here are the details of the workshop:
-
- Location:
- Physical Location : SAVY International North London Studio at 163 Concord Road London ON N6G 3H9, Or
- Online – You’ll be sent routine for each day.
- Formats: 3-Class Series
- Batches: One batch in the month it is offered.
- Days & Time:
- Group Sessions: Fridays, from 04:45 PM – 05:45 PM, or
- Private Sessions: By appointment
- Cost:
- Group Sessions: $150 for all 3 group sessions (+HST), or
- Private Sessions: $499 for all 3 private sessions (+HST)
- Commitment:
- A firm commitment to complete the program without missing any class (except in an emergency).
- At the end of the one month program, incorporate the techniques learned in your practice. You may also sign-up for another month. Continue routine Yoga classes if you are already coming, or join classes at SAVY Studio.
- Components of Program:
- Chandra Namaskar
- Mantra
- Pearls of Ancient Wisdom
The same program is also taught on one-on-one basis and online. Please book your appointment for ‘Meet and Greet’.
Please check the exact schedule and time below.
Through demonstration, discussion and experiential movement, you will gain key understanding of proper postures and how to keep your body safe. As common sense dictates, one can function properly only if one is disease-free and is in a healthy state of body, mind and spirit. So, for us, your health and disease-free state comes first of all. We firmly believe Yoga is much beyond mere gymnastics and sauna!
- Location:
- Improved General Health
- Longevity
- Anxiety Relief
- Stronger Bones
- Healthier Heart
- Healthy Weight
- Lower Stress Levels
- Increased Flexibility
- Lower Blood Pressure
- Improved Lung Capacity
- Improved Brain Function
- Greater Sense of Balance
- Better mind-body connexion
- Better Sexual Function & Libido
- Lower Blood Sugar Levels in Diabetics
- Relief from Chronic Back Pain and Neck Pain
- Better over-all quality of life & much more…
Learn all that directly under expert guidance of one of the most qualified faculty in the world!
Please fill up your Registration and Waiver Form through London Yoga Classes page. Sign up today and live life to your full potential.
Call or email for any inquiries.
Sign up today and live life to your full potential.
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*HST applicable on all payments.