Which is better Suryanamaskar or Chandra Namaskar? (2023)

Which is better Suryanamaskar or Chandra Namaskar?

Surya Namaskar is older than the Chandra Namaskar. The Moon Salutation came into practice in the late 20th century. Chandra Namaskar is performed fewer times than Suryanamaskar. In Moon Salutation, Ardha Chandrasana is practiced after Ashwa Sanchalanasana whereas in the Sun Salutation, it is not performed.

Suryanamaskar, as the name suggests, is related to the sun, meaning light and heat, whereas Chandranamaskar is for the moon, and is about meditation and being calm. Like the best time to practice sun salutation is morning, moon salutation is done in the evening to relax the body.

This pose is not only beneficial for your lower back but also for your shoulders, pelvic area and knees. It improves your knee caps and makes your pelvic region a little flexible than before. Chandra namaskar promotes weight loss and increases your body balance.

Chandra Namaskar focuses mainly on the lower body and works well for people who have difficulty resting their body weight on their arms. The yoga asana stretches and strengthens all the muscle groups, aids flexibility and increases functioning and balance of the respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems.

Surya Namaskar, also known as 'The Ultimate Asana', strengthens your back as well as your muscles and brings down blood sugar levels. It also improves metabolism and blood circulation (hence, a glowing skin) and ensures regular menstrual cycle for women.

When you can, practice Chandra Namaskar in the evening. Surya Namaskar is traditionally practiced at sunrise as a way to pay homage to the sun and to warm the body for the coming day. It makes sense, then, to practice Chandra Namaskar in the evening when the moon is out.

Chandranamaskar is done only 4-5 times at once unlike the Suryanamaskar which is a set of 12 rounds . In Chandranamaskar, one starts at the left and moves on to the right whereas in Suryanamaskar we start on the right side. This is because the left side represents 'ida naadi' ( Ida is the left channel.

Moon Salutations soothe

The meditative, calming quality of the poses helps to form a strong connection to the breath, preparing the body and the mind for a restful night's sleep.

After the completion of the 6 poses, one round of the Chandra Namaskar is complete. Repeat the steps taking the practice to about 4-6 rounds and always make sure the breathing process is in coordination with the body movements.

Like the former, this too comprises different postures for the right side and left side, making a complete cycle. While Surya Namaskar has 12 postures, Chandra Namaskar has 14 positions correlating to the lunar phases.

What is the difference between sun and moon salutations?

Sun salutation is similar to yang energy. It's Active, vigorous, assertive, and energizing, whereas moon salutation is relaxing, receptive, and meditative, like that of yin.

Megha Nancy Buttenheim, CEO and founding director of Let Your Yoga Dance® LLC, and a Kripalu faculty member for more than 30 years, co-created Kripalu's Chandra Namaskar.

There are a total of 12 Chandra Namaskar Steps, just like the Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation), but unlike sun salutation which is performed in the morning, chandra namaskar (Moon Salutation) is performed during the night.

Surya Namaskar is a powerful technique to make you more mindful. With regular practise, it increases awareness forming a deeper connection between the body, breath and consciousness. You can start with 5 cycles a day as a beginner, and slowly increase it to 11 cycles per day.

Walking helps improving the functioning of the heart and the lungs, while Surya Namaskara does it better. Postures such as Adho-mukha-shvanasana, Uttanasana introduces inversion of blood to the heart increasing the blood flow to the heart.

Surya namaskar (Sun Salutation) can be practiced if there is no heavy bleeding or cramping. But it should not be performed in a fast manner. Chandra namaskar (Moon Salutation) is another alternative which is more soothing, harmonizing and calming at this time and helps to cultivate the feminine aspects.

New Delhi: Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutation is a sequence of 12 powerful yoga poses. Though best practiced early morning on an empty stomach, we can perform the Surya Namaskar any time of the day. Apart from providing the body with a 360-degree workout, the Surya Namaskar also impacts the body and mind positively.

Surya Namaskar can be practiced at night or day or in the evening. But the most preferable time is early morning when the sun is rising, as the early morning sun rays are most beneficial for body.

Make sure you don't eat anything at least an hour and a half before performing these versions. Do not attempt Surya Namaskar after a heavy meal. Begin by slowly getting into each posture, holding each asana for 3-5 seconds.