Full Moon Yoga, why bother?

-by
Kirti Tarang Pande
Facebook| Instagram| Twitter

Science says that moon is our planet's satellite. As bright as it may seem, it's merely a reflection of sun. Poor thing doesn't even have its own light. This makes one wonder why in spirituality so much importance is attached to moon? Why the yogis and sufis spend nights meditating on moon? Why tantrics schedule their powerful practices for full moon and new moon? Why Buddhist monks keep precepts?

For a moment, let's set aside what science tells us and connect with what we experience. Have you ever felt intense delight when looking at a full moon, or suddenly felt love rising in you, a sudden urge of passion? Has it ever been that you were feeling lonely or sad for no apparent reason and when you peeped out of the window, it was full moon?

In a month, there are two full moons. Once dedicate a month to connect with not what you have told but what you feel on Full Moons. Simply observe your thoughts and emotions. After all, yogis are not followers but investigator. 

Upon conducting this investigation, you will find that the moon doesn't give or take anything. It simply elevates what we already have. If you're joyful, it makes you ecstatic. If you're sad, it will make you depressed. If you're meditative, it will deepen your spiritual practice. Siddartha became Buddha on a full moon night, didn't he?

Therefore, it's only common sense to mark this day in calendar. So that, on this day we can consciously connect with the qualities that we desire in us. If something has to heightened, it might as well be the thing that brings forth our well-being.    

On contrary, if we carry on with our day with usual absent mindedness we end up strengthening the shackles of our compulsiveness.

It is for this reason, you will find that in both yogic and Buddhist cultures fasts are kept to purify the body on Full Moon days. Precepts of love, compassion and kindness are kept. Spending time on primping the body is avoided and day is spent culturing the emotions.

It is common for yogis to capitalize on the power of this day. In fact, most yoga teachers don't teach on this day. They keep this day to go deeper in their personal practice. At Home Yogis' Home, we feel differently though. We take extra sessions. It is my personal belief that utilizing the power of this day to benefit others is more meaningful than serving my own cause.

Fuil moon is the night when oceans rise. We are 70% water, we too have potential to rise. If only we are aware and we are willing to go through a process for this.

The Process: Full Moon Yoga Flow

Step 1: Chandra Namaskar

(2, 11, 20 or 29 rounds)

 Namaskar Mudra- Exhale- Eyes Closed

1.Tadasana- Inhale- Antar Drishti

2.Ardha Kati Chakrasana-  Exhale- Hastargra Drishti

3. Tadasana- Inhale- Nasagra Drishti

4. Uthita Trikonasana- Exhale- Hasthagra Drishti

5. Ardh Chandrasana- Exhale- Hastagra Drishti

6. Ashwasanchalan- Inhale- Nasagra Drishti

7. Ajneyasana- Inhale- Antar Drishti

8. Malasana- Exhale- Nasagra Drishti

9. Ajneyasana

10. Ashwasanchaln

11..Ardha Chandrasana

12. Uthita Trikonasana

13. Tadasana

14. Ardha Kati Chakrasana

15. Tadasana

Namaskar

Since in yogic wisdom sound is a source of creation, music becomes a medium to align with the rhythm of the cosmos. Following this tradition, Raga Abhogi is the music assigned to Chandra Namaskar. So, if you want to practice the sequence of Chandra Namaskar with music, pick any rendition of Raga Abhogi.

Step 2: Chandra Pranayams

"All that exists in the three heavens rest in control of Prana"
- Prashna Upnishad II.3

Prana is our primal life force. It moves in our being through a system of energy channels. These energy channels are called Nadis in yogic terminology. These nadis exist in our subtle body, which is our mind-prana field. There are seventy two thousand nadis in our mind-body field.

Lunar nadi is one such nadi that determines the flow of our primal energy. This Lunar nadi is called Ida in yogic vocabulary. It has feminine and cooling energy. This implies that it's the functioning of this nadi which makes us intuitive, creative, visionary and open our hearts to love.

It is this love that provides the fuel that sustains our spiritual fire.

So, chandra pranayams are the techniques that open our love window. No body puts it more beautifully than Rumi:

"Close the language door
and open the love window.
The moon won't use the door,
only the window."

The two Chandra Pranayams are

a. Chandra Anoloum
Close the right nostril. Breathe in and out through left.

b. Chandra Bhedan
Breathe in through left, breathe out through right

Practice 11 rounds of each. During this process allow your awareness to rest on the left side of the body, the lunar side- wherever the awareness goes, prana follows.

Step 3: Shrim Chanting

Sit in cross legged position.
Hands in Kamala mudra.
Close your eyes.
Behind the closed curtains of your eyelids there's a vast space called Chiddakash. Visualize bright moon here.

Recite 11 times with exhalation:

"Om Shrim Namah"
Shrim is a mantra with very pleasing lunar quality.
It is a mantra that floods our senses with love, devotion, beauty, delight and divine grace. It gives us the good things of life, including health to our body, fertility, rejuvenation and steadiness to our mind and emotions. However, the best part is that it is one of the softest and safest mantra to use. Just keep one thing in mind that since it is a lunar mantra it lowers our body temperature. For this reason, I strongly recommend that stick to 11 repetitions, don't overdo.

Step 4: Chakra Meditation

Even you don't have a conducive settings or guidance to undergo this process, don't fret. Simply spend the day consciously cultivating loving kindness first towards yourself and then with everyone you come in contact with.

Happy Poornima :)


Further Reading:

Lunar Eclipse and Yoga