Today is a full moon day.
It is traditional in Ashtanga yoga to rest on new and full moons. I have always relished these opportunities as a day off to regenerate from my hard work outs and yoga practice.
If I have to teach class on full or new moon days, I often make it a restorative practice.
But, why do we take the full and new moons off??
There is a great explanation at http://www.ashtangayogacenter.com/moon.html which I have paraphrased below:
The human body is about 70% water and water is affected by the gravitational pull exerted by the relative position of the sun and moon.
During the full moon, our energy is at it's strongest point. Conversely, during new moon our energy is more mellow and not suited for vigorous activity.
Yoga practitioners are very tuned into to the energetic forces of the universe, making both full and new moons undesirable practice days.
So, indulge in the tradition of taking rest on these days. The regenerative effect on your body will be noticed immediately. Even just the discipline of being able to step back from routine and take rest is good practice of unattachment. Get a massage, take a hot bath and take the time to cook a nourishing meal.
Enjoy the full moon day today!
(photo from: freedigitalphotos.net)
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