Both full and new moon days are observed as yoga holidays in the Ashtanga Yoga tradition. 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.
Moon days for the 2011 are as follows:-
January 4th NEW
January 19th FULL
February 2nd NEW
February 18th FULL
March 4th NEW
March 19th FULL
April 3rd NEW
April 18th FULL
May 3rd NEW
May 17th FULL
June 1st NEW
June 15th FULL
July 1st NEW
July 15th FULL
July 30th NEW
August 13th FULL
August 29th NEW
September 13th FULL
September 27th NEW
October 12th FULL
October 26th NEW
November 10th FULL
November 25th NEW
December 10th FULL
December 24th NEW
