moon days

The traditional Ashtanga method advocates daily practice with one regular rest day each week. According to the Ashtanga tradition, the new moon and full moon are also rest days when no practice takes place. Attention to the lunar cycle helps us connect with the cycles of nature. The human body, like the Earth, is affected by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. The positions of the sun and moon create an energetic experience similar to the breathing cycle. The full moon corresponds to the end of the inhalation, where we feel energetic and emotional, which can cause physical and mental instability and expose the body to injury. The waning moon corresponds to the end of the exhalation, where we feel calm and stable, but not energetic for physical exertion.