Moon Days

NEW MOON

January 11

February 9

March 10

April 8

May 7

June 6

July 5

August 4

September 2

October 2

November 1

December 1

December 30

2024

FULL MOON

January 25

February 24

March 25

April 23

May 23

June 21

July 21

August 19

September 17

October 17

November 15

December 15

Why is there no Ashtanga on Moon Days? 

Full and New Moon days are observed as yoga holidays in the Ashtanga Yoga tradition.  

Human beings are composed of about 70% water; as such, we, like the ocean, are affected by the phases of the moon.  Both the sun and the moon exert a gravitational pull on the earth.   The phases of the moon are determined by the moon's relative position to the sun, and these relative positions create different energetic experiences.  On these "moon days", the sun and the moon are in a line relative to the position of the earth.  As a result, their gravitation forces are all combined, and thus their effect is more pronounced.  The full moon creates an upward moving force that makes us feel energetic and emotional, but not well grounded.  The new moon creates a downward moving force that makes us feel calm and grounded, but heavy and less inclined toward physical exertion.

As we practice Ashtanga more regularly, we begin to gain a greater appreciation for these forces on our physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies.  We thus observe the moon days as a way to recognize and honor the natural rhythm of the moon cycle, and allow our bodies to rest and heal.