How to Sync Your Yoga Practice to the Phases of the Moon
Many of us have received advice on what to do during a Full Moon or New Moon. What about the weeks leading up to these universal occurrences? We sync our yoga practice.
As the moon waxes and wanes, we should consider activating our creativity and surrendering. Gearing up towards the Full Moon can take us from our sacral to our heart – our Active Creativity to our I am Love Source Energy, and the color orange to the color green. Whereas disappearing towards the New Moon can take us from our root to our third eye – the death of activity to commanding a new beginning, and the color red to the color purple.
Through well-balanced diets, timeline-jumping emails, essentially-branded art, expressing through hot yoga, releasing with a cord-cutting ritual, or meditating on presence, understanding truthfulness, non-possessiveness, self-discipline & surrender can neutralize our life force energy within our spiritual practices.
Identifying the Yamas & Niyamas towards the life we see, hear, feel, smell, and taste can help us craft new goals and release any unwanted energetic mucus throughout a week of inspired action and introspection within a lunar cycle.
What are the Yamas and Niyamas of Yogic Philosophy?
Some may think of yoga as postural, exercise, or zen, and where that is true, yoga is a way of living. However, in a world where forced conditioning from others and our environment domesticates us, learning this methodology improves our yogic practices by taking our awareness to thought.
These ten guidelines give us wisdom and limitless potential to take ownership of our lives and direct it towards our manifestations. As we ebb and flow with our experiences, a lunar cycle becomes more at ease with the foundation of these ethical practices.
Listed below, Yamas are our restraints & Niyamas are our observances, and together they make up The Jewels of Life:
The Five Yamas
Nonviolence (Ahimsa)
Truthfulness (Satya)
Nonstealing (Asteya)
Nonexcess (Brahmacharya)
Nonpossessiveness (Aparigraha)
The Five Niyamas
Purity (Saucha)
Contentment (Santosha)
Self-Discipline (Tapas)
Self-Study (Svadhyaya)
Surrender (Ishvara Pranidhana)
Now, let's intersect two Yamas and two Niyamas as we practically strategize our alignment to the moon.
THE WAXING MOON
Before we get into the yogic philosophy, here is a list of good yoga poses to practice as the moon brightens:
Half Moon (Ardha Chandrasana)
Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana)
Wide-Legged Forward Fold (Prasarita Padottanasana)
Triangle (Trikonasana)
Half Boat (Ardha Navasana)
The waxing phase, first-quarter moon to the full moon specifically, is an illuminating time to engage our cores, initiate new projects, and explore new directions. Considerably so, as the night sky illuminates, we take inspired action by using truthfulness and self-discipline.
The Yama Truthfulness, 'Satya,' consists of our self-expression and expansion. As we create motion towards our declarations and craft actionable goals, this jewel invites us to be bold and spontaneous. As we begin to develop pathways toward the dreams we wish to call in, this jewel reminds us that we must also adapt and prepare for obstacles on the way.
The Niyama Self-Discipline, 'Tapas,' is our persistent effort to become someone of character and strength. With limiting obstructions that may come our way, using skillful creativity can take moments of crisis to the depths of our adaptability.
Paying attention to the possibilities that come in divine timing will require these jewels, for consistency is knowing when to rest and push the gas pedal. In adapting to the world around us and staying in the unknown, every first quarter moon signifies less control over our senses, louder creative expression of our true essence, and trust in the process of our spiritual discipline.
Are you willing to be both ignited and blessed by the light?
THE WANING MOON
Just as we listed good yoga poses to practice for the waxing moon, here are a few yoga poses to practice as the moon darkens:
Corpse Pose (Shavasana)
Easy Pose (Sukhasana)
Child’s Pose (Balasana)
Headstand Pose (Sirsasana)
Chair Pose (Utkatasana)
The waning phase, third-quarter moon to new moon specifically, is the time to start letting go while we root in our yoga mats, the Earth, and being present. Again, considerably so, as the light dims, we listen to & receive wisdom with non-possessiveness and surrender.
Combined, the Yama Non-possessiveness, 'Aparigraha,' and the Niyama Surrender, 'Ishvara Pranidhana,' invite us to pack lightly on our journeys, to be in flow with the rhythm of our higher purpose, and to release. In continuation, with every inhale, there is an equal exhale. This harmonious act provides our body, mind, and soul with movement and reflection, helping us tread this physical plane with humility.
Every moment in life should allow the ego and the inner divine to be respected, for light does not exist without darkness and vice versa. Therefore, as we let go of the ultimate ending of our lives or the moon's disappearing light, we create an active space for expansion, our free will to act towards freedom in the rhythm of our spiritual connection to the universe and the Earth.
As we identify our blocks or limiting beliefs, we encounter, connect, and appreciate the fullness of the present moment, making us softer, braver, and integral. In the mystery of our fears, we attach ourselves to security. Here is our reminder that "love is what is left when you let go of all the things you love." (Swami Jnaneshvara)
Are you willing to take the universe off your wrist and place timing in its heartbeat?
TRUST & SURRENDER
In moments of crisis and bliss, we must consider presence and skillful mastery within our spiritual practices. With the foundation of yogic philosophy, our journey towards enlightenment within a lunar cycle can be passively-skillful and an inflow of surrender.
The chakra system comes in handy when speaking about the location of the physical body. Whereas practicing the Yamas and Niyamas can bring awareness to our thoughts, emotions, and feelings. Nonetheless, both enhance our senses.
Assembling a self-nourishing garden, setting a relationship free, daily lubrication of the body, expressing through journal prompts, initiating creativity with the Breath of Fire, or meditating in Shavasana are spiritual practices if you believe so. Throughout the waxing and waning phases of the moon, we should consider surrendering to our true essence and trusting our truth.
Through the psychology of color, acceptance, and our unique essence, we can alchemize the kaleidoscopic Light within, for Life creates Light. Through our impeccable words, we can tell the story as it is with ourselves, with others, and with the universe.
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Drew Porrett is a creative expressionist through movement, philosophy, and music. Certified yoga and sacred sexuality teacher, his/their mission is to guide curiosity through a colorful approach to existence by intersecting inner passive and active energetics. If you want to get to know him/them a little further? Click here or follow on instagram.