Once in a Blue Moon - by Mehtab, Yoga Yoga's Founder

This Thursday night (May 31) is Full Moon. It is the second Full Moon this month and is called the Blue Moon.

A Blue Moon (the second full moon in a calendar month) only happens every 2 ½ to 3 years – a long time. That is where we get the expression: “I haven’t seen you in a Blue Moon.”

As yoga students and teachers, the Full Moon has a significant meaning for our practice and its observation is part of a rich yogic heritage.

Here is how the Full Moon affects and enhances your practice of yoga:

The energy of the full moon brings energy and heightened emotions. Psychologists and sociologists have observed there is typically an increase in births, accidents, crimes, emotional outbursts, shopping, eating, sexual activity and healing crises with the full moon.

We have noticed that yoga classes are always fuller at the time of the Full Moon as people come to balance their emotions and energy at this time of the month.

Scientists say that the pressure in the brain increases by a very small amount – about the weight of a mosquito – but this amount has an effect on our thought processes.

In yoga, the energy of the full moon is often likened to the end of inhalation when the force of prana (vital life force energy) is the greatest. The day of the full moon is considered to be auspicious to accomplish significant activities. The luminous brightness of the moon represents prosperity, abundance, and healing energy.

Paradoxically, the time of the high energy Full Moon is actually optimal for a day of rest, fasting, and cleansing and not vigorous physical activity.

What this means for a yoga practitioner is that this day is optimal for the practices of meditation, pranayama, mantra and all healing forms of yoga. It is a perfect time to connect with your higher self.

In the traditional 6-day a week Ashtanga Mysore practice, the asana practice is suspended on the days of the Full Moon and the New Moon as the energy force created by the moon and sun in opposition and conjunction affects emotions and energy which could lead to misjudgment and an increase in injuries.

An asana practice on the days of the Full Moon is conducive for healing and meditation and should not be pursued aggressively. An ideal Hatha practice for this day, for example, would be the series of Moon Salutations (Chandra Namaskar) that traditionally gives reverence to the strength and importance of the moon. A traditional posture to practice this day is the Half-Moon Pose or Ardhachandra-asana (ard-ha-chun-drah-sa-na). This grounding and balancing standing posture strengthens the abdomen, ankles, thighs, buttocks, and spine and stretches the groins, hamstrings and calves, shoulders, chest, and spine. Its soothing practice improves coordination and sense of balance while relieving stress and improving digestion (an important consideration on the Full Moon day when we may feel a little more stressed out and prone to overeat).

An interesting pranayama to explore on the Moon Day is Chandra Bheda, a calming and soothing breath meditation. It is done by using the right fingers to open and block the right and left nostrils while breathing long and deep. Inhale through the left nostril (The Moon Side) and then exhale through the right nostril (The Sun Side). The exhale is usually twice as long as the inhale. If you can comfortable retain the breath, you can hold the breath gently in for up to four times the length of the inhale before exhaling. This breath works on the right feminine hemisphere of the brain to awaken intuition.

In general, the feminine and softer side of our practice should show on this day for everyone, and for women who are having their personal “moon day” during the Full Moon, it is an ideal time for a Restorative practice.

In Kundalini Yoga, there are several mediations observed on the day of the Full Moon. The Healing Ring of the Tantra is used to create group healing energy. It requires a minimum of 11 participants. Any healing meditation tends to be more effective on this day as the body’s glandular system undergoes a natural adjustment. This was also why fasting and cleansing are recommended for this day as it gives the body a chance to more easily re-balance its energies. There is also a distinct upward movement of energy on this day that is optimal for deep meditation, and there is a specific Kundalini Yoga meditation (SA RA SA SA) useful to move energy through the charkas.

Regardless of what you choose to do on the day of the Full Moon, choose with awareness. A centering yoga practice can help you integrate and balance the energies of this powerful day to accelerate your healing and transformation.