Moon yoga: How understanding the lunar cycle could enhance your wellness routine

If you’ve tried face yoga, trauma-informed yoga, and even puppy yoga, allow us to introduce you to the latest iteration of the ancient practice: moon yoga. 

“As the moon waxes and wanes, goes from full to dark, one can really feel the energy grow and decrease depending on which phase it is in,” explains Lisa Hood, the author of Moon Yoga: Poses, Flows and Rituals to Help You Move with the Moon. Moon yoga is an “acknowledgement and understanding of the energetic differences between the phases that the moon moves through,” she adds.

For example, Hood explains, “When the moon is at her fullest, she is closest to the earth, so you are going to feel more of her energy directly; even plants and animals react, so it makes sense for us to feel more energised.

Here Lisa Hood speaks to GLAMOUR about harnessing this energy through yoga flows, poses, journal prompts and rituals. In turn, you may just feel more “grounded, calmer, more patient, and truly aligned with your thoughts and feelings.”

GLAMOUR: Hi Lisa! How did you come across Moon Yoga? 

Lisa Hood: It all began when I started practising Ashtanga yoga. The methodology of this style of yoga acknowledges the new moon phase with no physical asana. This really intrigued me and so I started to delve deeper. 

I read books on the moon, attended moon ceremonies and events and began to notice the effects the moon phases were having on me personally. I then started to take my moon musings into my public classes, which really resonated with many people. It all felt really aligned to be speaking about this, so when the book proposal came through, there was absolutely no hesitation from me. I knew I had a lot to share regarding movement and mindful practices, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

Can you describe how moon yoga has changed your life?

For me, moon yoga has given me the tools I need to live a more harmonious and balanced life. It’s given me moments to know when to rest and reflect and then equally moments when to make my intentions, and action plans and execute them. 

As a mother of two young boys, I understand and know how busy and full life can get, and that if we carry on like this, we risk burnout and exhaustion. Moon yoga gives me an opportunity for me to check in with myself, and how am I feeling, move my body, and notice what I need to do or let go of. Following the practices in moon yoga gives the reader a very easy plan to follow, and once you start, you won’t want to stop.

What are the benefits of moon yoga?

Living in harmony and sync with nature, finding moments of rest and peace, connecting back to yourself with movement and ritual, and manifesting your intentions and goals

This book has been created so that anyone can honour each moon phase. There are different options for you to choose from, and know that it’s not intended to practise them all at once; just one of the options would be amazing. I hope this book is something you will keep coming back to again and again. A moment for you, just you and the moon.

Ready to give it a go? Here, Lisa shares an example of a moon yoga warm-up you can do to get you started: