In honor of today’s full super moon, the biggest full moon of 2020, I’m sharing a moon salutations practice!
Here’s a little bit about moon salutations from Yoga International:
"Many traditional cultures revere the moon as a manifestation of the divine feminine force in nature. According to hatha yoga, this force also resides within us. Whereas solar energy is warm, active, and outwardly oriented, lunar energy is cool, receptive, and inwardly focused.
Society typically encourages our solar, more masculine impulses, making it easy to pursue worldly achievement rather than inner awareness. Although the aim of hatha yoga is to balance our lunar and solar energies, even our asana practice tends to reflect a bias for the solar, often emphasizing sun salutations and heating practices in the interest of physical fitness.
If the divine lunar force could speak, she might lovingly remind us to “chill out before we burn out.”
Like a mother, the moon can teach us to slow down, listen to our own needs, and be receptive to change.
We can invoke and pay homage to the lunar energy in nature and within by practicing chandra namaskara, or moon salutation.
An inward-moving and mildly calming practice, chandra namaskara is appropriate for any time of day, including late afternoon and evening. To bring an element of ritual into your practice, try it during the new and full moon phases, or outside anytime under the moon itself.
Move through chandra namaskara slowly and mindfully, maintaining a smooth, deep, steady breath. Tune into a sense of devotion as you honor all the phases of the moon and the cycles of your life."