Yoga Fundamentals Series – Moon Salutations or Chandra Namaskar

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:

1. Pranamasana / prayer pose
2. Hasta utthanasana / raised arm posture
3. Padhastasana / hand to foot pose
4. Ashwa sanchalanasana / equestrian pose
5. Ardha chandrasana / half moon pose
6. Parvatasana / mountain posture
7. Ashtanga Namaskara / salutation with eight parts of the body
8. Bhujangasana / cobra posture
9. Parvatasana / mountain pose
10. Ashwa sanchalanasana / equestrian pose
11. Ardha chandrasana / half moon pose
12. Padhastasana / hand to foot pose
13. Hasta utthanasana / raised arms pose
14. 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.    

1. Pranamasana
2. Hasta utthanasana
3. Padhastasana
4. Ashwa sanchalasana
5. Ardha chandrasana
6. Parvatasana
7. Ashtanga namaskara
8. Bhujangasana
9. Parvatasana
10. Ashwa sanchalasana
11. Ardhachandrasana
12. Padhastana
13. Hasta Utthanasana
14. 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:

What to Expect

This workshop is suitable for everyone and has no contra-indications whatsoever. Regular practice will bring you all the benefits. Learn the routine, practice regularly at home or attend classes regularly.

Components of Program

• • Chandra Namaskar (Moon Salutation)
  • Mantra
  • Pearls of Ancient Wisdom

Pre-Workshop Consultation

Please let us know if you have any queries. You can email your queries or you can come in person to the Studio.

Information Material

You will be provided information material for the program. We want only consistently superlative results for you.

Follow-Up

After completion of training for routine to practice at home, you should continue regular practice. You can practice at home or join regular classes. Follow the program consistently and you should see results very soon. 

On-Going support

On-going support through email (preferably) or telephone will be provided for one month from the date of last registration.

Credits for Professionals

Yoga and other professionals can sign up for the Credentials Module for Contact Hour Credits at the time of signing up for the workshop. Along with the required fee, you’ll be required to submit the practice sheet and a one page description of what you learned and how you will be incorporating what you learned into your life.

You’ll be issued a certificate for 3 CEU’s.

Important details of Yoga Fundamentals Workshop: 

• Location: In person at the Studio (Group or Private sessions), or online (Private sessions)
• Format: 4-Class Series. Weekly classes.
• Batches: One batch in the month it is offered.
• Cost: $200* for 4-Class Series (Group Sessions). 
• Days & Time:
  • Group Sessions: Weekly group sessions starting on 
    • February 7, 2020, Friday, at 11 am (February 7, 14, 21 & 28)
    • June 5, 2020, Friday, at 11 am (February 5, 12, 19 & 26)
    • August 7, 2020, Friday, at 11 am (August 7, 14, 21 & 28)
    • October 9, 2020, Friday, at 11 am (October 9, 16, 23 & 30)
  • Private Sessions: By appointment 

• Commitment:
  • A firm commitment to complete the program without missing any session (except in an emergency). Missed sessions will not be compensated.
  • In addition to the sessions, you should also follow the routine at home.
  • At the end of the program, you can continue the practice at home, or sign up for regular Yoga classes at the Studio. 

Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat, a pen and journal. You may bring a blanket for cushioning as we will be lying on the mat during the class. Class is limited, so register early. Class not appropriate for pregnant women. For people with full-blown illnesses, we offer separate specialized programs.

Bookings

Bookings are made through a two-stage process:

1. Completing the Registration Form on the SAVY website. Click here to go to the page.
2. Completing the payment for the full course fees:

   Please submit the non-refundable and non-transferable fee of $200* (+HST = $226). 

   Fee can be paid:

   • • in cash, with a debit card or with a Master/ VISA card at the Studio, or
     • with a Master/ VISA/ American Express card on telephone, or
     • through Interac e-transfer to savy.yogaclasses@gmail.com, or
     • by clicking on the ‘Pay Now’ tab below. Please fill in your name and the date of the workshop you are signing up for:

   Name

   Name and Date of Workshop

   
   Bookings are only confirmed once we have received full payment. We are unable to reserve spaces prior to payment.
   By booking on behalf of another participant, the individual confirms they are authorized to make the booking.
   

For queries, please email to savy.yogaclasses@gmail.com.

Terms

• Your spot will be confirmed after receiving full payment
• Valid only for the sessions it is purchased for
• Once registered, dates cannot be changed
• Non-refundable, non-transferable
• No cash-back or credit
• No surrender value
• Valid only if authorized by the studio

Please contact us to book your spot. Space is limited and participation will be on a first-come-first-serve basis. We would love to hear any suggestions or comments that you might have.

Please go to Contact Us page to email or call. 

Learn all that directly under expert guidance of one of the most qualified faculty in the world! 

Sign up today and live life to your full potential.

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Note : DSBH Therapy^©, MBH Therapy^© TRY^©, Vedic Meditation^©, BeCCY^©, Yoga4Wellness^© , Tranquility Breath^© or any other Yoga Wellness program has not been evaluated by Health Canada, US Food & Drug Administration or the American Medical Association. This technology does not claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Medical advice must only be obtained from a physician or qualified health practitioner. Results may vary between individuals. There are no guarantees, expressed, or implied.

You should check with your health care professional before starting this or any new therapy or exercise program or breathing routine. This is especially important if you have any pre-existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure, migraines or heart or lung ailments. Women who are pregnant or think they might be pregnant should consult their physician before performing any of the breathing or physical exercises or undertaking any therapy program.

The information contained in the program is not intended to serve as a replacement for professional medical advice. Any use of the information in these programs/ workshops is at the reader’s discretion, risk and responsibility. The studio, author and the publisher specifically disclaim any and all liability arising directly or indirectly from the use or application of any information contained herein. A health care professional should be consulted regarding your specific situation.