Surya & Chandra Namaskar

The marriage of Hatha Yoga. Two beautifully complementary Namaskars opening to the sun (‘ha’) and moon (‘tha’), Surya Namaskar and Chandra Namaskar.

The sun symbolises spiritual consciousness and in ancient times was worshipped by the sages on a daily basis. The sun opens to our Solar channel, flows within pingala nadi, is the giver of our life force and active within Nature. Each posture within the practice of Surya Namaskar is a prostration to the early morning sun, igniting our inner fire and qualities of the left side of the brain, which governs the right side of our body.

The best time to practice Surya Namaskar is to the rising sun, within Nature if possible.

The moon opens to our Lunar channel and flows within ida nadi, embraces qualities of the right side of the brain, our introverted, feminine and creativity energy, cooling, nurturing and relaxing, responsible for consciousness and governs the left side of our body. More introspective in Nature. Within the practice of Chandra Namaskar feel the slower rhythm, softness and inner direction.

 The best time to practice Chandra Namaskar is at night ideally with a visible moon or dawn at the time of the full moon and for women around the moon cycle.

Whilst the moon has no light of its own and reflects the light of the sun, so the practice of Chandra Namaskar reflects that of Surya Namaskar. Classical Surya Namaskar consists of twelve postures and Chandra Namaskar fourteen.

Crescent Moon pose, sometimes called Low Lunge pose, or Crescent Lunge Pose, (Anjaneyasana) a cooling, yet powerful pose is added to the practice, bringing to the sequence an added dimension, which helps us to develop poise, balance and concentration, toning imbalances of the ovaries, uterus, urinary tract and strengthening the skeletal system. We open to our heart, the breath deepens, the lungs are energised paving the way for the return and release. The pose helps us to develop humility, wisdom and compassion. Practiced with our eyes closed develops a greater sense of trust.

The twelve postures of Surya Namaskar relate to the twelve zodiac or solar phases of the year, the fourteen postures within Chandra Namaskar relate to the lunar phases. In the lunar calendar the fourteen days before the full moon are known as the bright fortnight and the fourteen days after are known as the dark fortnight.

Surya and Chandra Namaskar are complete sadhanas, spiritual practices embracing asana, pranayama, mantra and meditation. Both Namaskars pave the way to the receptive state of meditation.

In our lives there is the tendency to be ahead of time. A Namaskar is a pause, a return to center, a new relationship to breath that is so extraordinary you start to feel a deeper inner rhythm taking you into this whole-body movement meditation, which starts to stimulate our awakening and devotion. The feeling state of transformation comes through igniting the inner flow not the outer physical movements.

Before commencing Surya and Chandra Namaskars feel Mountain Pose (Tadasana) the steadiness, stillness yet lightness within the pose, hands drawn into Anjali mudra (prayer position), eyes closed or a soft half gaze. Pause, sense the inner flow and rhythm of breath. Draw your inner gaze to the vision centre. For Surya Namaskar visualise the early morning sun, feel the light, healing rays, warmth from the sun radiating down through your whole body. For Chandra Namaskar visualise a full moon in a dark night over an ocean. See the reflections of the moon over the ocean and feel the coolness of the night radiating down through your whole body.

I have always loved the classical Bihar School of both practices. There are many variations of Surya Namaskar. Another version of Chandra Namaskar was introduced by Kripalu in the 80’s, which is a flowing sequence of postures specifically for women. Shiva teaches the Bihar version within Prana Vinyasa and also shares Moon Shine.

‘And still, after all this time, the Sun has never said to the Earth, you owe me. Look what happens with love like that.

It lights up the sky’ ~ Rumi

‘Moonlight floods the whole sky, from horizon to horizon. How much it can fill your room depends on its windows. Grant a great dignity, my friend to the cup of your life.

Love has designated it to hold its eternal wine’ ~ Rumi

Designed & Created by David Holland