8 Yoga Poses That'll Help You Make The Most Of Tonight's Full Moon
A full moon, aside from always being breathtakingly gorgeous to look at, is an exciting opportunity to really feel all the cosmic energy that surrounds you. It's a moment that allows you to feel more connected to yourself and to nature. And the full moon coming later tonight, Oct. 5, isn't any old sphere of light chillin' in the sky. This particular full moon is going to be intense AF, bringing out all the buried emotions you may or may not have been holding back. That's why preparing with a series of nourishing and strengthening yoga poses for the full moon will allow you to optimally receive all of the energy this celestial event has to offer.
Since tonight's full moon is in the sign of Aries, there will be loads of impulse and passion headed your way. Aries is an adventurous, courageous, and versatile zodiac sign that always stands tall and true to what they believe in. So having the full moon in Aries means that spontaneous emotions will be revealed with little control, and passionate beliefs will be fiercely guarded.
Internal conflicts are likely with this specific Aries moon, so try to maintain courage and resilience when you're faced with inner turmoil.
That's where yoga comes in. It takes courage to be able to let go of what doesn't serve you, and flowing through these strengthening and heart-opening poses will allow you to make space for new, vibrant energy.
Plus, the moon is extremely symbolic when it comes to yoga mythology. The sun and the moon are known to represent the two polar energies of your body, according to Yoga Journal, and that's why it's very freeing and energizing to sync your practice with the phases of the moon.
So, while your emotions might not seem to make sense tonight as the full moon sets in, incorporating these yoga asanas into your day will help you go with the flow and embrace the raw, natural feelings that surface.
Here are eight yoga poses that will let you harness all of the intensity and passion that tonight's full moon will bring. Namaste!
01Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
Mountain pose may seem simple, since you're essentially just standing up straight, but, this asana is extremely powerful and allows you to ground yourself while claiming your space on this earth.
Start off with this pose to increase alertness, and take this time set an intention surrounding tonight's energy-stirring full moon.
02Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I)
Warrior I captures the idea of viewing yourself as a spiritual and powerful warrior. While holding this pose, picture yourself literally battling with the negative energy stirring within you. Using your breath, allow yourself to let go of and release any of that internal suffering.
Plus, this pose is a really nice hip-opener, which helps even more when it comes to releasing stagnant, toxic energy.
03Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)
Warrior II requires strength, fierce determination, and steadiness — all optimal characteristics to harness during this full moon.
Hold this pose for a few breaths, maintaining a sense of integrity, and inhaling deeply into your belly. As you exhale, take a moment to mindfully bask in your newfound strength.
04Peaceful Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana)
Peaceful or reverse warrior is strong like Warrior II, but it adds a bit of grace and elegance into the mix.
Relish the juicy stretch that this pose brings, and focus on balancing strength with flexibility as you maintain even breathing.
05Half Moon (Ardha Chandrasana)
As its name reveals, half moon pose is the ultimate asana to honor tonight's cosmic event.
In the Sanskrit name of the pose, ardha chandrasana, "ardha" means "half," and "chandra" means "to shine." So, yeah, you could say there are some serious, natural moon vibes going on in this movement.
06Crescent Lunge (Anjaneyasana)
This low lunge pose will begin to open your heart and let you feel open to any and all emotions that have begun to surface during your practice.
Try not to shy away from anything that bubbles up internally. Instead, acknowledge your feelings mindfully without judgment.
07Camel Pose (Ustrasana)
Camel pose is a deep back-bend and heart-opener that will support all of the energizing vibes that this full moon plans to stir up.
The full moon in Aries is said to make you feel amazing about progress you've made toward any goals you've set, so let this heart-opener accentuate those juicy feelings of self-love and appreciation.
08Pigeon Pose (Kapotasana)
Some of the negative characteristics of Aries include anger, hot-headedness, and impatience, all of which may surface during tonight's moon.
However, pigeon pose will help counter any of this unwelcome energy. The deep hip-opener releases any tension stored in the lower body, and really lets go of any old emotions you might not even know you were holding on to.
