Moon Salutations

[Celtaur]

This is something I have just recently learned about, and know not much of but am certainly interested in exploring.

Moon Salutations are related to the lower chakras (Root and Sacral) therefore relates to opening and grounding the hip region. This differs from Sun Salutations, as they relate to opening the heart chakra.

The Root Chakra relates to the Earth element, and the Sacral relates to the Water element.

Moon salutations would become a useful part of daily practice. Sun salutations in the morning, Moon salutations in the evening.

As I explore these further I'll be posting more info here about poses and working with the energy.

[Celtaur]

The Moon Salutation is a vinyasa sequence which is used to balance the Sun Salutation. Moon Salutation's draw on the feminine and yin energies in the body. The energy is cooling, calming and nourishing and may be practiced to close the day focusing on stretching the legs, hips ans sides of the body.

From what I have learned so far, there is no agreed upon series for Moon Salutations as each teacher provides unique series.

Now some of the common poses I have come across are Prayer Pose (Namaste Mudra), Crescent Moon Sidebend (Chandrasana) to each side, and the Five Pointed Star pose (Trikonasana) and various types of squats which emphasize expansion of the hip region including Goddess Squats.

In this thread I'll be posting a series of a Moon Salutation that makes sense to me to use. I've been learning that any Yoga work in the evening should be geared towards restfulness, and thus would be relaxing.

[FreeSpirit]

I am looking forward to hearing more about your yoga positions in salute to the moon and the night.

It would be something I would be interested in starting to practice.

[Celtaur]

I will keep you updated. I think it's a great way to balance the morning practice with to wind down the day and reconnect with the whole self after, I'm sure, some long, busy days.

[ruoka]

This is really intriguing to me! I am for sure going to be looking up those positions and adding this practice to my routine. Thanks for sharing!

[Celtaur]

I haven't done moon salutations in a while. I've been so preoccupied with the sun lately all I can think about is swimming. But I have been doing some sun-salutation asana regularly indoors (it's too hot out most of the time lately to go out there and burn in the sun - again I'm in the water mostly when I'm outside now).

[gbcaine]

Wow, that sounds like a wonderful way to end the day! Drawing upon the moons energies, and even maybe altering the positions based on the phase of the moon could be cool too...waning poses vs waxing poses, adding poses for full or new moons. Could become a woderful and cleansing ritual. Am very interested to see what you come up with! I cancer moon and rising so the moon effects me. Looking forward!

[Celtaur]

Wow, that sounds like a wonderful way to end the day! Drawing upon the moons energies, and even maybe altering the positions based on the phase of the moon could be cool too...waning poses vs waxing poses, adding poses for full or new moons. Could become a wonderful and cleansing ritual. Am very interested to see what you come up with! I cancer moon and rising so the moon effects me. Looking forward!

I'd love to bring Yoga practice back into my routine. Your idea of altering positions based on the phase would certainly be a great way to keep the practice interesting and changing. I shall over the coming month looking into my personal practice as I get back on track with such things.