Have you ever tried a Moon Salutation aka Chandra Namaskar?
It hasn't been around as long as its famous counter part Surya Namaskar (salute to the sun), but it's a really nice sequence that makes us move in all directions, using the long end of the mat.
The Shiva Samhita (500 year old Tantric text) regards the moon as the source of immortality. Like the 'sun' is located in the solar plexus, the 'moon' is said to be located in the crown of the head and contains 'amrita' the divine nectar of immortality. (There is a yogic practice where you to slice your tongue - just a little -so you can flip the tongue into the back of the throat better and catch this amrita and reverse ageing and decay… Well, this may be a gentler way of keeping the elixir of life.)
In Yoga (as in life) we are seeking balance. As with everything there are opposites: Yin/Yang. Light/dark. Sun/Moon Day/night...and the list goes on. We are also aiming to even out the 2 opposing 'Nadis' - energy channels in the body.
When you do a sun salute and more heating movements, you are stimulating 'Pingala' the masculine, energising nadi. When you do a moon salute and more cooling movements, you are stimulating 'Ida' on the left. This feminine, calming, soothing nadi. Eventually, through movement, breath, meditation, right living and a whole load of other stuff both sides are balanced and the dormant energy in the central nadi (Sushumna) rises and enlightenment ensues, though it may take a while.
Whether our aim is enlightenment, immortality or just a bit of balance see if these moves help to even things out.
Random moon facts:
Moon dust smells of gunpowder
Surface temperatures in the moon reach boiling point
You always see the same side of the moon
Christopher Columbus used a lunar eclipse to frighten Native Indians to giving him and his crew food
Here is how to do a moon salute: (you can save this image)
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