Observing the Moon

By Brooke Hewes, 10-18-07

Every month, twice a month, Ashtanga Vinyasa yogis celebrate moon holidays. On the full and new moon, Ashtangis don’t engage in their regular asana practice. Or at least they’re not supposed to, though I know many yogis who roll out their mats rather than rest anyway.

Abstaining from one’s asana practice during the full and new moon, however, is a tradition for good reason. It is a time to take rest and pay attention to how personal rhythms interact with universal rhythms.  It is a time, in our busy lives, to slow down — to even rethink those cultural and individual tendencies to push, pull and generally plain ol’ produce despite natural cycles urging otherwise.

Cycles of the Moon
The full and new moon occur at opposite ends of the lunar cycle. When the moon is full, it is “in opposition” with the sun — that is, the Earth is sandwiched between the moon and the sun. During the 15 days following a full moon, the moon wanes (decreases) into a new moon. A new moon is not visible from Earth because it is “in conjunction” or in line with the sun — that is, the moon is now sandwiched between us on Earth and the sun. As the moon moves back around the Earth towards full, it never actually changes shape (it doesn’t really wax or increase). Rather, what changes is the amount of moon lit up from its position relative to the sun.

This is the moon’s sometimes-lit, sometimes-dark, 27 ½-day journey around planet Earth. And at difference points during this cycle, though most poignantly during the 12 hours on either side of a completely full and new moon, yogis and non-yogis alike are affected by lunar energy.

Lunar Energy
Despite being 238,900 miles from Earth, the moon affects us and our planet in many ways. Tides, for example, are known to be affected by the gravitational pull of the moon.  Water that faces the moon is pulled towards it strongly; water which faces away from the moon is pulled significantly less. Even the water beneath the Earth’s surface (groundwater that constitutes the water table) as well as water in plants and trees is affected by its position on Earth relative to the moon.

Humans are three-quarters water. And like oceans and plants, we are affected by lunar cycles. In addition to being watery, we are energetic beings. And since full moons are thought to be times of great energy, our vital energy (what is referred to as prana, or life force, in yoga) is especially strong. It is a time of upward movement. Of feeling energetic, headstrong, even invincible. In contrast, apanic energy (the downward, grounding energy within the body) dominates at the other end of the lunar cycle. As such, we feel more connected to the Earth during a new moon. We’re more grounded, passive, even lethargic.

Traditional asana sequences in Hatha Yoga are designed to balance apanic and pranic forces/movements within our bodies. In fact, each individual pose seeks similar balance by containing different degrees opposition — inward and outward rotation; inhalation and exhalation; grounding and reaching. During full and new moons, however, prana and apana dominate respectively and can throw off such carefully crafted balances. As such, skipping one’s physical yoga practice is a good idea to avoid over- or under-doing-it from lunar-related energy swings that may otherwise leave us vulnerable to injury. In fact, say many yogis, the more we practice and become sensitive to the energy within and around our bodies, the more important observing these holidays becomes.

Besides, it’s kinda nice to take a couple days off each month and honor our connection with something bigger than our mat-bound practice.

Balance Within the Lunar Cycle
In general, the moon is considered yin. It is the mother. Compared to the sun — which is fiery, bright and full of energy — the moon is cool, dark, even contemplative. Relative to one another (and remember what Paul Grilley said about yin and yang always being relative, never static), though, the moon and sun strike balance. By itself, and despite its constant wax and wane between bright (yang) and dark (yin), the moon still finds equilibrium. Within one lunar cycle, yin and yang distinctions dissolve into a single, complete circle.

Moon Abounds in Yoga
Besides the full and new moon, there is another yoga holiday related to the lunar cycle: “ladies holiday.” During the first two to four days of a woman’s menstrual cycle—which is often called her “moon”— she is advised against practicing Ashtanga Yoga. (This is informed by an ancient Ayurveda tradition to avoid inversions during menses.) Again, while I know many women who don’t honor this tradition, it is wise to heed for both health (practicing during this time has been linked to uterine fibroids) and harmony (again, it’s nice to honor these innate, natural rhythms).

Several asansa (posture) incorporate “moon” into their names. There is Ardha Chandrasana (half-moon pose), Chandrasana (crescent-moon pose), and Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana (revolved half-moon pose). And though most of us are more familiar with sun salutations (Surya Namaskara), moon salutations (Chandra Namaskara) soothe the nervous system and relax the body. Even the name of the tradition that includes and emphasizes physical posture, Hatha Yoga, incorporates the moon: “Ha” translates in Sanskrit as sun, while “tha” translates as moon.

And with that, I leave you with a fun fact. Unlike yogis, farmers are not encouraged to rest during the beginning and end of lunar cycles. On the contrary, a new moon is a great time to sow seeds and encourage rooting, while a full moon is a great time to transplant. Transplants do well in this time that is marked by increased fertility and upward growth (flowering).

For the 2007 moon calendar, visit the Ashtanga Yoga Center’s website, Ashtanga.com or, of course, the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Up Next: Exploring Astrology and its connection to Yoga with Missoula artist, writer and astrologer Deborah Clow.