Moon Prayer Salutation Yoga Workouts

There are two types of "salutation" sequences in yoga: Sun Salutations and Moon Salutations. The Moon Salutation sequence is not as popular as the Sun Salutation sequence -- which you will see practiced in many Ashtanga and Vinyasa classes -- since it hasn't been around as long. Regardless, practicing Moon Salutations, also known as Moon Prayer Salutations, is a beneficial way to soothe and balance your body and your energy.

  1. History of Moon Salutations

    • There are a few variations of the Moon Salutation sequence. The sequence was created in 1969, when teachers at the Bihar School in India published the sequence in a book called the Pranayama Mudra Bandha. During the 1980s, a group of female yoga instructors at The Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health developed a different variation of the sequence. The goal behind creating this variation was to honor women's bodies and rhythms, but at the same time create a sequence that served as a complement to the more powerful, heat-building Sun Salutation sequence.

    The Purpose of Moon Prayer Salutations

    • The Moon Prayer Salutation is a sequence of yoga poses meant to cool down and calm your body. Contrary to Sun Salutations, which are meant to build up heat, Moon Salutations, referred to in Sanskrit as Chandra Namaskar, will help you to relax. The Moon Salutation sequence is beneficial for women, especially during menstruation, menopause or pregnancy. The Sun Salutation sequence is meant to raise your heart rate and build heat inside your body, whereas Moon Salutations will cool and calm your body and your nervous system.

    Differences Between Moon and Sun Salutations

    • Other differences between the two sequences are apparent in the poses that make them up, as well as the pace that each sequence is practiced. Sun Salutation is practiced with a little bit of speed, and it includes strength-building poses such as Chaturanga and Downward-Facing Dog. Moon Salutations are taken at a slower pace, there are more poses in the sequence (16 or 20, depending on which version you are practicing, compared to about 12 in Sun Salutation), and poses focus on relaxation, such as Wide-Legged Forward Fold or Side Stretches.

    When to Practice Moon Salutations

    • Practicing the Moon Salutation sequence in the evening, or before a more relaxed yoga class, such as a Yin class, will help lower your energy and quiet your mind. It is also recommended to practice Moon Salutations on days you feel depleted, anxious, stressed or nervous, since the sequence is calming to the overall nervous system. Practicing Moon Salutations at those times can help bring more balance to your body and your mind.