Suki Daulry in Ardha Chandrasana; by Zoe Zimmerman for Sundara Studios 2013
Some yoga traditions hold the teaching that practicing yoga on full and new moon days is considered risky as the gravitational pull of the sun and moon increases. In effect, much like the rising tides of the Earth’s oceans, the tides of the body’s inner energies (vayus) rise with greater strength.
This coming weekend the moon will once again fill the night sky with bright full light. If you choose to practice on full moon days, this week you can observe the ever-changing rising and falling of your inner energies by practicing half moon pose in conjunction with the waxing of the moon.
Begin in a standing forward fold, legs strong, muscles lovingly hugging to the bones. Place your right hand on the floor, or a block, just forward and wide of your right foot. Take a deep full bright breath in, like the full moon shining in the dark sky, exhale to lift your left foot in line with your hip, leg long and straight behind you.
Rotate your hips, stacking them both on top of your strong right leg. Place the left hand upon your hip as you stabilize your foundation, rooting down into the four corners of the right foot from deep inside the core of your pelvis. Draw the outer right hip back with your next exhale and rotate your waist, chest, and gaze skyward beyond the twinkling stars of our galaxy. Extend your left arm toward the moon as you feel ready, and play with lifting your right fingertips away from the floor as your posture gains steadiness and strength. Hold for as long as you like — 5-10 breaths are recommended — exhale to descend the left hand and leg back to the mat, and switch to the second side.