I'm wondering how various different moon phases affect our practice? I have a deep feeling that we're affected by moon cycles more than many of us are aware. I have noticed that when the moon is waning, so does my energy. I sleep most when there isn't any light from the moon and it doesn't have a thing to do with how much light comes into my room. I'm just energy-less. My time is spent sleeping or doing things that do not require strenuous physical activity.
Whenever I try to muscle my way through a run or any type of activity that requires much physical energy I usually suffer for it in some way. This is not the case while the moon is waxing. My energy is lifted and grows, almost with the moon. Nor do I don't sleep much when the moon is growing. Almost every full moon I have trouble sleeping. This lasts a few days before the full moon to a few days after at which point my energy drops with the shrinking moon. What's your experience been with moon phases and your energy levels?
My question here is that I've experienced people who say you shouldn't practice Yoga during a full moon though I would say quite the opposite based off my experience. I actually feel MUCH more open to recieving good energy and I also feel it's easier to "reach out" to other energy that I usually have trouble feeling. I wonder if the ancient texts spoke predominantly about Yogis being men and if this is true for the male gender but the opposite for the female? Since the moon is feminine, it makes sense?
What say you?
Katrina
Whenever I try to muscle my way through a run or any type of activity that requires much physical energy I usually suffer for it in some way. This is not the case while the moon is waxing. My energy is lifted and grows, almost with the moon. Nor do I don't sleep much when the moon is growing. Almost every full moon I have trouble sleeping. This lasts a few days before the full moon to a few days after at which point my energy drops with the shrinking moon. What's your experience been with moon phases and your energy levels?
My question here is that I've experienced people who say you shouldn't practice Yoga during a full moon though I would say quite the opposite based off my experience. I actually feel MUCH more open to recieving good energy and I also feel it's easier to "reach out" to other energy that I usually have trouble feeling. I wonder if the ancient texts spoke predominantly about Yogis being men and if this is true for the male gender but the opposite for the female? Since the moon is feminine, it makes sense?
What say you?
Katrina
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Re: Moon Phases & Yoga
Sun, July 15, 2007 - 1:08 PMIt really depends on what type of practice you are talking about and what system it comes from. There is a whole system of moon series that is totally appropriate to be doing at the full moon and working with that energy specifically. -
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Re: Moon Phases & Yoga
Wed, July 18, 2007 - 3:37 PMRhea,
Can you elaborate more on what physical yogic system condones working with the full moon? I'm interested to know.
Thanks!
K -
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Re: Moon Phases & Yoga
Wed, July 18, 2007 - 3:48 PMI re read what I wrote and wanted to change something -
Not "physical Yogic system", rather what compenents of the any Yogic system, which are physical, are condoned during a full moon?
Thanks again : ) -
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Re: Moon Phases & Yoga
Thu, July 19, 2007 - 9:21 AMWell chandra namaskar is either done specifically on the full moon or with the full moon as a visual. I studied this at Yoga Mandala in Berkeley. This as I understand it comes from a classical tantric view. The practice I mean. At yoga mandala you can study classical tantra view teachings. Actually if you asked the question on the yoga mandala site I believe you'd get a pretty elaborate answer.
The thing that comes to my mind after having done so much study and practice is that the full moon is a part of a goddess style practice/understanding. The energy of that body just like the energy of any other celestial body can be worked with in your practice and probably there is some practice relating to it whether you call it Hindu, Tantric, Vedantic, etc. I mean heck, I just came home from India where on the full moon in the town I was living in it is a huge Lord Siva day when everyone walks around the sacred mountain considered the body of Siva (about a four or six hour journey).
So if you mean which types of asana practices are condoned, I would recommend asking the teacher of the system that you choose, and/or sense it yourself and go with that opening. If you are doing a practice that is entirely solar (surya namaskar) that might be leaving out an entire aspect of the experience of being in the human body which has both lunar and solar nadis.
I am not an ashtangi yogi so you'd have to ask them why they don't practice on the full moon. Might be because their practice is so solar it's not appropriate. I don't know.
Hope that helps.
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Re: Moon Phases & Yoga
Thu, July 19, 2007 - 12:57 PMThank you Rhea -
It feels quite natural for me to practice while the moon is full. When I asked another Yogi about this she explained that the heightened energy I feel is indeed real and for that specific reason certain styles tend to shy away from practicing while the moon is full. She mentioned that if I hurt my body when the moon was full practicing Yoga it is an injury that will stay with me for a longer amount of time than if I hurt my body any other time...and since the energy is heightened, people may feel they can go to places where they maybe are not ready to journey yet.
It made sense to me, but I SO enjoy practicing during full moons. I feel more in my body and more focused. I just asked her last night and thought I would share. Like you, I also feel that many of us intuitively know what's ok for us. I have a bit of trouble accepting what I feel is intrisically right or wrong without any justification or validation from the outside. I have to work through that. I don't know if I'm ready to trust myself yet. I'm not sure I should. What if I'm full of shit? lol I'd be trusting someone who doesn't know what they're talking about : )
One day.. I'll trust...one day
Katrina -
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Re: Moon Phases & Yoga
Sat, July 21, 2007 - 9:09 AMHi katrina- thank you for sharing-
Yes that trusting oneself thing is tricky business because of course we know that we have the ability to decieve ourselves or to have certain inclinations that are based on habits that might not benefit us, but then again, we also have the wisdom of the universe inside of us and our own intrisic intelligence. It's nice to have those around whom you trust to ask for honest observation or feedback and also to develop one's own trusting instincs, I believe.
In Inner Wisdom- Rhea
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