Created at the Kripalu Center in the late 1980s, Moon Salutations (chandra namaskara) is a modern sequence developed as a soothing, fluid alternative to traditional Sun Salutations. Unlike the linear, front-to-back solar practices, this sequence flows laterally across the mat, sweeping through wide-legged postures like Fierce Angle Pose, Triangle, and Side Lunge, to mirror the circular phases of the moon. Designed to honor a gentle, grounding energy (apana vayu), it emphasizes softening, downward flow, and deep hip mobility. The fluid transitions make it a useful practice for calming the nervous system, cooling the body, and transitioning into a quiet, meditative state.