Full Moon yoga tonight

Tonight the moon is full and this of relevance to our yoga. Tim Miller, a well respected and highly experienced pracitioner and teacher of ashtanga vinyasa explains:

"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."

In the ashtanga vinyasa method, practice is suspended at the time of full moon, due to the risk of over endeavour and injury. Other traditions celebrate the full moon, integrating goddess wisdom and using this time for the purposes of spiritual expansion. 

Gloria Drayar runs full moon yoga sessions in New Mexico, she explains,

"I believe we have this amazing ability to create what we want in our lives. During the full moon, asking for what we want is very powerful. So we have this powerful way of creating whatever we want or need and the moon adds to that." 

I will be teaching class later this evening in Glastonbury. My approach will be to acknowledge the full moon, its grace, beauty and power. To use nadi shodona pranayama to cleanse and balance. Perhaps in a warmer climate we would take the opportunity to enjoy an extended savasana outside, lying on the earth and bathing in the moon light. 

Full moon blessings to all yogis. 

Om shanti.