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Yoga Poses for the New Moon
Updated: Nov 1
My favourite yoga poses to practice under the energy of the New Moon.
Yoga for the New Moon
The New Moon marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle, symbolising renewal, new beginnings, and fresh intentions. It’s a potent time for reflection, setting goals, and planting seeds for future growth. Many cultures and spiritual practices view the New Moon as an ideal opportunity to pause, look inward, and connect with our innermost desires. Integrating yoga into your New Moon rituals can amplify these intentions, providing a mindful space to align your body, mind, and spirit with the cyclical rhythms of nature.
Yoga poses for the New Moon are typically gentle, introspective, and grounding. They focus on inward reflection, helping to quiet the mind and open the heart. This practice encourages you to slow down, breathe deeply, and set intentions for the month ahead. By incorporating poses that emphasise balance, stillness, and flexibility, you can create a powerful practice that mirrors the quiet potential of the New Moon. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or a beginner, these poses can help you harness the lunar energy, fostering a deeper connection to yourself and the natural world.
Moon Salutations
The Moon Sequence, or Chandra Namaskar, is a gentle and grounding yoga practice that honours the energy of the moon. Unlike the more energising Sun Salutation, this sequence focuses on cultivating a quiet and reflective state, which aligns beautifully with the qualities of the New Moon. In the Moon Sequence, each movement and posture encourages a deep connection to the breath and an inward focus, helping to create space for new intentions and inner exploration. Practising the Moon Sequence at the New Moon is ideal because it mirrors the moon's invitation to rest, reflect, and set intentions.
Energetically, the New Moon is a time of stillness and introspection, a natural point in the lunar cycle to slow down, let go of what no longer serves us, and consider what we want to bring into our lives. The Moon Sequence supports this energy by fostering relaxation and calming the mind, which can be especially helpful for planting new seeds and visualising what we hope to manifest in the coming month. Movements in the Moon Sequence, like forward folds and side stretches, also stimulate the body's lunar energies, helping to bring balance to the sacral chakra, which is connected to creativity, intuition, and emotional flow. For anyone wanting to connect with the New Moon’s energy through a mindful, meditative movement practice, the Moon Sequence offers an ideal blend of physical grounding and subtle energetic alignment.
Child's Pose
Child's Pose, or Balasana, is a fundamental yoga posture known for its gentle and introspective qualities, making it particularly resonant with the energy of the New Moon. In this pose, practitioners kneel on the mat, bowing forward with the forehead resting on the ground, arms extended or relaxed alongside the body. Physically, Child's Pose offers a soothing stretch to the back, shoulders, and hips, promoting relaxation and surrender. Yet, its significance extends beyond the physical; it serves as a symbol of returning to oneself, embracing stillness, and turning inward—qualities that are deeply aligned with the introspective nature of the New Moon.
During the New Moon phase, when the sky is dark and the lunar energy encourages reflection and setting intentions, practicing Child's Pose can offer a profound opportunity for inner contemplation and renewal. It invites a quiet space for self-exploration and introspection, allowing practitioners to connect with their emotions, thoughts, and aspirations. As you settle into the pose, focusing on the breath and softening into the posture, you can release tension and distractions, creating a sense of calm and clarity. Child's Pose becomes a sanctuary where you can nurture your intentions for the new lunar cycle, fostering a deeper connection with your inner wisdom and the transformative energies of the Moon.
Goddess Pose
Goddess Pose, or Utkata Konasana, embodies strength, grace, and empowerment, qualities that resonate deeply with the energy of the New Moon. In this powerful yoga posture, practitioners stand with their feet wide apart, toes turned out, and sink into a deep squat. The knees track over the toes, the spine remains long, and the arms extend out to the sides at shoulder height, palms facing forward. This pose not only strengthens the legs, hips, and core but also opens the heart and cultivates a sense of grounding and inner stability.
During the New Moon, which symbolises renewal and the potential for new beginnings, practicing Goddess Pose can be particularly potent. It encourages you to embody your inner strength and tap into the divine feminine energy within. The wide stance and deep squatting position root you firmly into the earth, fostering a sense of stability and grounding. As you hold the posture, you may feel a surge of power and confidence, aligning yourself with the intentions you wish to manifest during this lunar phase.
Goddess Pose invites you to embrace your authenticity and stand tall in your truth, reflecting the introspective and transformative energies of the New Moon. It encourages you to explore your inner resilience and courageously step into new possibilities. By practicing this empowering posture, you can harness the lunar energy to cultivate balance, strength, and a deep connection with yourself and the universe around you.
Seated Forward Bend
The Seated Forward Bend, or Paschimottanasana, is a gentle yet profound yoga posture that offers a deep stretch to the entire back body, including the spine, hamstrings, and calves. In this pose, practitioners sit on the mat with legs extended straight in front of them. Keeping the spine long and the torso extended, they fold forward from the hips, reaching toward the feet or shins with their hands. The emphasis is on lengthening the spine and surrendering into the stretch with each exhalation, allowing for a gradual release of tension and stress.
During the New Moon phase, when the energy invites introspection and setting intentions, Seated Forward Bend serves as a valuable posture for quiet reflection and turning inward. It encourages a sense of surrender and letting go, symbolising the release of old patterns or emotions that no longer serve you. As you fold forward, you create a space for introspection and self-discovery, connecting with your inner world and nurturing a sense of inner peace.
Physically, this pose stimulates the spine and stretches the muscles along the back of the body, promoting flexibility and relaxation. Emotionally and energetically, it can help to calm the mind, reduce anxiety, and encourage a sense of grounding. By practicing Seated Forward Bend during the New Moon, you can harness the lunar energy to support your intentions for personal growth, renewal, and inner harmony. It offers a tranquil space to reflect on your goals and aspirations, allowing you to emerge from the pose with a renewed sense of clarity and purpose.
Supported Shoulder Stand
Supported Shoulder Stand, or Salamba Sarvangasana, is a rejuvenating inversion that holds a special significance during the New Moon phase, aligning with its themes of introspection, renewal, and inner exploration. In this pose, practitioners lie on their backs and lift their legs toward the sky, supporting their lower back with their hands or a prop like a blanket or bolster. The shoulders provide the foundation, lifting the body into a vertical line, with the chin tucked gently toward the chest.
Physically, Supported Shoulder Stand offers a myriad of benefits. It stimulates the thyroid gland, which is associated with metabolism and energy regulation, and improves circulation throughout the body. The pose also encourages lymphatic drainage, helping to cleanse the body of toxins and promote overall health. By gently compressing the neck and throat, it can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, inducing a sense of relaxation and calm.
Energetically and spiritually, Supported Shoulder Stand during the New Moon encourages introspection and inner alignment. The inverted position offers a different perspective, both literally and metaphorically, allowing practitioners to see things from a new angle and gain clarity on their intentions and goals. It invites a deep connection with the self, facilitating a journey inward to explore emotions, desires, and aspirations. As you hold the pose, you can focus on breathing deeply and setting intentions for the new lunar cycle, harnessing the transformative energy of the New Moon to support personal growth and spiritual evolution.-
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Until next time, stay magical
Emma xx
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