This description comes from Tim
Miller's site:
"Both
full and new moon days are observed as yoga holidays in the Ashtanga
Yoga tradition. What is the reasoning behind this?
Like
all things of a watery nature (human beings are about 70% water),
we are affected by the phases of the moon. The phases of the moon are
determined by the moon’s relative position to the sun. Full
moons occur when they are in opposition and new moons when they
are in conjunction. Both sun and moon exert a gravitational pull
on the earth. Their relative positions create different energetic
experiences that can be compared to the breath cycle. The full
moon energy corresponds to the end of inhalation when the force
of prana is greatest. This is an expansive, upward moving force
that makes us feel energetic and emotional, but not well grounded.
The Upanishads state that the main prana lives in the head. During
the full moon we tend to be more headstrong.
The
new moon energy corresponds to the end of exhalation when the force
of apana is greatest. Apana is a contracting, downward moving force
that makes us feel calm and grounded, but dense and disinclined towards
physical exertion.
The
Farmers Almanac recommends planting seeds at the new moon when the
rooting force is strongest and transplanting at the full moon when
the flowering force is strongest.
Practicing Ashtanga
Yoga over time makes us more attuned to natural cycles. Observing moon
days is one way to recognize and honor the rhythms of nature so we can
live in greater harmony with it."
