Yoga And The Full Moon: 5 Ways to Practice Gratitude
The Full Moon is glorious and glamorous. In modern-day society, people are most aware of the Full Moon out of all the phases in the Lunar Cycle. Why? Because it’s big, bright, and beautiful! We often speak about the full moon and her mystical power and mysterious energy. Whenever there is a full moon, people act a little differently, even a little strange. What is the true power of the full moon though and how can we use it in our yoga practice?
The Full Moon is A High Energy Time: Great For Manifestation
When the moon is full in the sky, it is said that the psychic/intuitive powers are higher, especially in women. Because of this, we are also more connected to the spiritual aspects of ourselves…the barriers of existing in society maybe melt away a little bit and allow a bit of our true selves to creep through, less inhibited. We might go a bit more wild than usual. You might say we all go through a bit of a werewolf phase. :P
During this time it is important to channel this energy appropriately. It is a time of action…not just any action, ALIGNED action. It will become painfully obvious during this time if you are using your energy for things you aren’t aligned with because that TRUE inner self is going to be speaking louder to you than ever.
Practice energizing styles of yoga such as Vinyasa or Hatha Yoga to connect with this high-energy, highly magickal moon phase.
Make sure during this moon phase, you are taking the time to LISTEN TO YOUR INTUITION. Because she will be speaking to you in a much more powerful and energized way. Don’t ignore her.
The Full Moon is not only a great time for action but a great time for spiritual work, as the magick is heightened during this time. Practice deeper both on and off of your yoga mat. I’ll give you some ideas below!
The Full Moon is A Time to Celebrate and Be Grateful
Especially when it comes to manifesting, the full moon can be overwhelming in how powerful its energy is. We are motivated and taking action, but we also need to take the time to check-in. Before we enter into the Waning Moon phase, where we let go and start to slow down, it’s important to practice gratitude and celebrate our accomplishments. The Full Moon is associated with the Harvest. So what can you harvest from your journey? What have you been cultivating? There will be time to make adjustments and reevaluate your actions during the New Moon. Now is not the time for that and therefore it is certainly NOT the time for self-judgment and self-criticism.
Imagine you are a farmer who has been growing crops for months now. Lots of hard work and effort has gone into your yield. And as the days of harvest come, you are taking your last actions to complete the process of growing your crop. As you gather what you have grown, you feel gratitude for how much you have produced. You celebrate what you have been able to bring about.
Things may not have gone completely as you expected, and there will be time to plan for next year’s crop, but for now, you are able to be pleased with what you have and utilize it fully.
Let the energy of what you have been manifesting in your actual life mirror that of a farmer harvesting his crop. Complete your work and marvel at what you have done. This is SO important in our lives, to find gratitude and celebration, because it grounds us and allows us to feel centered as we move forward with our life. More challenges may be on their way, but if we feel grounded, we are much more easily able to take on those challenges.
5 Ways To Practice Gratitude Both On and Off The Yoga Mat
Create an affirmation for both on and off the mat. It could be something like “I am grateful” or “I have everything I need.” Repeat it to yourself when you feel challenged or out of balance.
Make an A to Z list in your journal. Write out all letters of the alphabet and use each letter to come up with something you are grateful for that begins with that letter. Marvel, at all you have!
When practicing yoga, think of one or two things that you are grateful for in your life- a person, a pet, a job, or anything that you are grateful to have. As you move through your asana practice, remind yourself of those one or two things whenever you’re feeling challenged. Observe how letting your mind move to these things helps you to calm down on your mat.
Practice heart openers on the mat. These poses correlate to your Heart Chakra, Anahata, which is our energetic place for gratitude, compassion, and forgiveness…all feelings you should be cultivating, especially during the Full Moon! Try poses like fish pose, bridge, wheel, or bow pose!
Try adding a chant to your asana or meditation session. The Sanskrit mantra Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu means “may all beings everywhere be happy and free” and encourages feelings of gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, and peace.
What do you think? Will you integrate these different practices into your Full Moon rituals? Will you be taking advantage of this high-energy phase while celebrating your wins? Take the time right now, to revel in what you’ve done so far in life, and express gratitude towards your amazing self for getting you to where you are.
And don’t forget to try out my Full Moon Yoga Class, available now on YouTube!
Happy Full Moon Magickal Yogis!