Both full and new moon days are observed as yoga holidays in the Ashtanga Yoga tradition.
At The Shala we have chosen not to cancel any led classes on moon days, but the teacher may choose to modify the practice to suit the energy level in the room.
The Mysore class will not be held on a moon day. If students arrive at The Shala during Mysore time on that day, they will be asked to only do restorative poses. In the future, a group class of chanting may be planned for 6:15 am on moon days.
Should the moon day fall on a Sunday, the Led 2nd series class will not be held, and the Led Primary will be modified significantly.
What is the reasoning behind this?
Like all things of a watery nature (human beings are about 70% water), we are affected by the phases of the moon. The phases of the moon are determined by the moon’s relative position to the sun. Full moons occur when they are in opposition and new moons when they are in conjunction. Both sun and moon exert a gravitational pull on the earth. Their relative positions create different energetic experiences that can be compared to the breath cycle.
The full moon energy corresponds to the end of inhalation when the force of prana is greatest. This is an expansive, upward moving force that makes us feel energetic and emotional, but not well grounded. The Upanishads state that the main prana lives in the head. During the full moon we tend to be more headstrong. The new moon energy corresponds to the end of exhalation when the force of apana is greatest. Apana is a contracting, downward moving force that makes us feel calm and grounded, but dense and disinclined towards physical exertion.
The Farmers Almanac recommends planting seeds at the new moon when the rooting force is strongest and transplanting at the full moon when the flowering force is strongest.
Practicing Ashtanga Yoga over time makes us more attuned to natural cycles. Observing moon days is one way to recognize and honor the rhythms of nature so we can live in greater harmony with it.
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2012 |
Full |
New |
|
January |
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| Sunday 8th | O | |
| Sunday 22nd | O | |
|
February |
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| Tuesday 7th | O | |
| Tuesday 21st | O | |
|
March |
||
| Thursday 8th | O | |
| Thursday 22nd | O | |
|
April |
||
| Friday 6th | O | |
| Saturday 21st | O | |
|
May |
||
| Saturday 5th | O | |
| Sunday 20th | O | |
|
June |
||
| Monday 4th | O | |
| Tuesday 19th | O | |
|
July |
||
| Wednesday 3rd | O | |
| Wednesday 18th | O | |
| August | ||
| Wednesday 1st | O | |
| Friday 17th | O | |
| Friday 31st | O |
|
|
September |
||
| Saturday 15th | O | |
| Saturday 29th | O | |
|
October |
||
| Monday 15th | O | |
| Monday 29th | O | |
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November |
||
| Tuesday 13th | O | |
| Wednesday 28th | O | |
|
December |
||
| Wednesday 13th | O | |
| Friday 28th | O |
