Moon Calendar

In Ashtanga Yoga we don’t practice on a full moon day or a new moon day. The official reason is that because we are 70% water (like our planet!) we are very much influenced by the tides. When the moon is full we are more eager and tend to practice forcefully. When the moon is new we are weaker and are bodies more fragile.

On both occasions injuries are more likely to appear – and injuries that arise on these days are more likely to be more severe and are also harder for the body to heal. If you practice according to Ashtanga tradition – which is six days a week with only Saturday off – the old school advice is that you refrain from practice on moon days.

Unofficial explanation to Moon Days in Ashtanga
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois – affectionately named Guruji by his devoted students was born into a Brahmin family. And he was the leader of ceremonies and rituals on Moon Days as well as being a yoga teacher. He did not have time to teach yoga on moon days because he had other responsibilities to attend to.

This is an unofficial rumor and explanation as to why the Ashtanga Yoga Shala was always closed when Jois was teaching – and why shalas are still closed on these days all over the world today. Whether or not the first or the latter reason or even if both reasons are true, if you practice six days a week, an extra day off is very much welcomed.

Below is the Moon Calendar of 2018 and 2019. Full Moon Days and New Moon Days are highlighted and on those days ashtangis all over the world refrain from practice in good conscience. If you practice six days a week the extra rest day will become you well.