Moon days are days that fall on the Full Moon and New Moon during any given month. In Ashtanga Yoga, these are taken as rest days. During these Moon phases, the Moon exerts a strong gravitational pull that causes the tides to change in our oceans and seas. 

Considering we humans are made up of 70% water, it becomes evident that the Moon would have a similar impact on us mostly-water beings. It’s thought that during these Moon phases, like the tides, our emotions are pulled to the surface and feelings in our minds and bodies are heightened. Moon days can make us feel light and airy (energetic but ungrounded) or heavy and stiff (grounded but lethargic). 

During the Full Moon, the Moon appears as a full gleaming circle when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in alignment. With the Moon shining brightly and exposing itself fully, you may experience similar feelings causing heightened emotions and extra energy. 

The New Moon, also known as the Dark Moon, emits a low light thus manifesting as low energy for us. This is a time when we may feel tired, introspective, and introverted. 

These intense gravitational pulls would then create imbalances when practicing yoga, as yoga requires both energy and groundedness. While you may not experience the effects of gravity in your everyday life, trust us the effects are there! It can be hard to stay in touch with how our environments may be impacting us with everything we have going on. If you don’t believe us, just go ask a healthcare professional or even a correctional officer working a midnight shift during a Full Moon. 

There are no Mysore, Half Primary or Full Primary classes on Moon days. However, Vinyasa classes are still available. We always recommend lighter practices if you do choose to practice on a Moon day.