After experiencing the luminous full moon a few days ago I decided to design my yoga classes for the week with a special focus on the cycles of life, how to find balance (both on and off the mat), and how to gracefully flow between it all.
The full moon is a time of abundance, generosity, and plentitude. As the full moon illuminates the night sky we are reminded to tap into our feminine energies (yes men, you have feminine energy that exists within you, too!)—we are provided with an opportunity to become fully open, receptive to the things around us, and to move through our own cycles and phases in life. It’s also a brilliant time to stop, breathe, and give gratitude to Mother Earth for all that she gives us.
Think about this: The moon phases are determined by the moon’s relative position to the sun. During a full moon the two lovers, sun and moon, are in opposition, and when we experience a new moon the two are in conjunction. This relationship of sun and moon create energetic experiences that can be compared to our breath cycles. Inhaling, filling up, expanding, and energizing like the full moon, and exhaling, emptying out, cleansing, and letting go like the wanning of the new moon.
As we all know, the gravitational pull between the earth and moon creates the ocean tides. But extend this relationship between the moon and water to us as humans. Can we feel that energetic pull-push, too? As we flow through life, moving from one cycle to another, we are reminded by mother nature and the world outside of our planet that we are a mere piece of a much larger puzzle.
There is no better time than NOW to become receptive to the signs we are given throughout these phases and life cycles. It could be a slight shift or a total metamorphosis, it may happen in the blink of an eye, or it could take years to complete itself. Positive transformation is patiently waiting to happen at every moment. It’s up to us to become brave enough to enable it to occur.
Use yoga to practice feeling these subtle energies, learning to flow through life as we flow through our poses, and become free enough to feel our connection to not only nature, but all things and people that surround us.
The moon phases remind us that there’s always good things on the horizon, things are constantly changing and transforming, and we must light our own way through life. Remember to keep your heart and mind open. There’s magic that surrounds you—free yourself enough to see and feel it. Steadily move and flow with whatever life delivers you and welcome the lessons, especially the tough ones.
Photo by Ali Kaukas.
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Zuzu Perkal is an independent artist, photographer, yoga instructor, and adventure enthusiast in Austin, Texas. Her days are filled with coffee, paint, and daydreams. She believes mistakes are simply a beautiful opportunity for growth and that our own life experiences serves as our most valuable teachers. Zuzu recently graduated from Wanderlust’s first Teacher Training Program and is on a mission to continually expand her consciousness while following her journey down the yogic path. She is currently experimenting with the concept of a floating yoga studio and mixed medium practice.