#lunar-yoga

#lunar-yoga

You'd fall in straight to the center of the moon if you stepped in some of those, the pilot Victor Glover reported about the vast field of craters, never seen before, that pockmark the other side of the moon.

To see where the moon melts over the garden,or where the bats flit, or where the air sweetens with pollen and moth-frenzy, I recommend a night walk to discern the perfect patch for it. Under this glow, we could all use a distraction-dig with a silver shovel and choose colors that swoon and moan under our satellite: dusty pinks, baby blue, lavender, white, and butter yellow gems unfurl at dusk until dawn.

Research shows that in the days following the spring transition, there are measurable increases in sleep disruption, impaired alertness, workplace errors, motor vehicle accidents, and even short-term elevations in cardiovascular events and blood sugar variability.

The human neuroendocrine system has changed very little since the time of cave people. Yet today we are likely to receive more stimulation in one day than our ancestors did in their entire lifetime.

Let's be honest: people place a little too much pressure on mornings. You've heard the advice. "Develop a morning routine!" "Set intentions!" "The quality of your entire day hinges upon what you do immediately after waking up!" It's not that this is bad advice. It's just a little perfectionist-y. And chances are, your real life mornings don't feel as picturesque as Cinderella waking up and having a family of bluebirds bathe and dress her.

Whenever we talk about practicing yoga for the heart chakra, our focus is releasing tension around the heart, including the chest as well as the upper back and shoulders. More than that, the anahata, or heart chakra, has to do with our ability to give and receive love as well as our ability to feel compassion and empathy toward ourselves and others in the world.

There is a quality of awareness that develops as we move to a deeper level in our practice of yoga. At first, our bodies seem dense and impervious, our muscles thick from exertion. Slowly we begin to differentiate and reclaim the various parts of our body. We learn the placement of the feet, the work of the legs, the lift of the rib cage, the lengthening of the spine, the carriage of the arms and head.

At the heart of yoga philosophy is the belief that stillness is not simply the absence of movement, but a profound engagement with our inner landscape. Practices such as asana (postures), pranayama (breath control), and meditation serve as gateways to this stillness, allowing us to cultivate awareness amidst chaos. Through these disciplines, we learn to quiet the mind's incessant chatter and tune into our true essence.

Popular definitions of yoga often include terms such as balance, harmony, health, and peace. While these qualities are certainly desirable, and must be created before one can enter the state of fixity, or yoga, they are not included in the definition Patanjali offers us in his Yoga Sutras, the classic second-century B.C. exposition generally accepted as the bible of yoga.

I had no idea what to practice, when to practice, or for how long. As a result, my practice lacked structure, variety, and inspiration. Then, I discovered an online yoga & meditation platform rooted in Himalayan wisdom. It wasn't just about movement; it was about building a relationship with myself. I started with 15 minutes a day. That was it. Sometimes, just breathwork. Other times, meditation. And occasionally, a full-body kriya that left me buzzing with energy.