One of the fundamental flows to our yoga practice are sun salutations (surya namaskar). Sun Salutations are more of a yang practice, related to activity, heat and light.
The counter to the yang practice and less commonly know are Moon Salutations which is more yin in nature. It a more receptive, meditative, and cooling practice. Although yin and yang seem to represent opposite principles (dark and light, day and night, passivity and activity etc) they are interdependent to each other. The yogic term Hatha also reflects the interconnected qualities – Ha referring to the masculine, warming, active energy of the sun and tha – the feminine, cooling, receptive elements of the moon. Hatha yoga seeks to unify these opposing elements creating harmony and balance.
Like Sun Salutations there are many variations of the Moon Salutation sequence. The following sequence is primarily a back bending salutation.
This sequence leads with the right side. Complete the entire series and then repeat on left side.
Sequence
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Exhale, Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
- Inhale, Mountain Pose arms overhead (Urdhva Hastasana)
- Exhale, Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)
- Inhale, Garland Pose (Malasana)
- Exhale, Place your hands down, lunge
- Inhale, Crescent Lunge (Alanasana)
- Exhale,Lunge
- Inhale, Camel (Ustrasana)
- Exhale, Child's Pose (Balasana)
- Inhale, Forward Cobra (Bhujangasansa)
- Exhale, Child's Pose (Balasana)
- Inhale, Camel (Ustrasana)
- Inhale, Crescent Lunge (Alanasana)
- Exhale,Lunge
- Inhale, Garland Pose (Malasana)
- Exhale, Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)
- Inhale, Mountain Pose arms overhead (Urdhva Hastasana)
- Exhale, Mountain Pose (Tadasana)