Chandra Namaskar
To me, the full moon seems like the pause after the inhale; it’s a time when we’re full, holding something before we let it go. Sometimes what we’re holding is important and other times, the way we hold it is just as important. Maybe we tense too much while we hold the baby or a certain thought or idea brings us stress because of the way we frame it in our mind.
I had a dream once that I had a load of things to carry as I climbed down a ladder. In the dream I was trying to go down the ladder facing forward, as if descending a staircase. I turned around to shift the load and go down the ladder the typical way and I remember waking up feeling and knowing that the dream was about how I was holding things in my body and my mind.
Mama, what type of load are you carrying? Can you put it down for a moment, or do you feel like you can keep going if you change how you carry it? Sometimes a brief journaling session or chatting with a friend or someone I trust helps me see what I’ve been holding in my mind (and heart!). Other times my thoughts go around in circles and talking or writing don’t seem to go anywhere. That’s when a little movement helps me listen to what I’m holding in my body (emotions? tension? habits?). In those moments of sequence and pose, I get little insights or I make little adjustments to get rid of physical tension, stress, and patterns that weigh me down or inhibit me.
Fullness isn’t always bad, though! The full moon reminds us that our nature is to ebb and flow, to contain and let go, and to notice: what feels right? What doesn’t? How can we recognize what we would do better to let go of and also acknowledge the good qualities, thoughts, feelings, and habits that we fill ourselves and our lives up with?
In honor of the full moon, and of the fullness of the life of a Yoga Mama, here’s my spontaneous version of a moon salutation. Enjoy!
Every Tuesday I’ll share a micropractice that helps busy moms (and dads and kids, and really anyone) to incorporate brief yoga practices into their day. Every Friday I’ll post ideas and inspiration for practicing yoga with kids. Here’s the post to kick off this biweekly series that will last until the end of the year! (Yes, this post is a day late, but actually right on time for the full moon!)