Ashtanga yoga practitioners do not practice on the days of the new or full moon. Check your locally observed moon days as well.

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. 2025 Moon Days (Pacific Time)

In the Ashtanga yoga tradition, moon days are observed on the full moon and new moon each month. These days are considered sacred and are a time for rest and introspection. Unlike most Western calendars, which follow a solar cycle of 365 days, the traditional Indian calendar is based on a lunar cycle of 29.5 days.

When the sun and moon are aligned, their gravitational force and its effect on us is stronger, and that’s why Ashtanga yoga practitioners do not practice on the full or new moons. On these days in the moon’s cycle it is better to let our bodies rest and heal.

In the Ashtanga tradition new and full moons are days of rest… take rest and enjoy! If you wish to be notified of moon days by email, you can sign up for our newsletter. Sign Up

May 21, 2017 · Ashtanga Yoga has the interesting and unique tradition of abstaining from practice on the days of the full and new moon, called “moon days.” I recently received a question regarding the timing of moon days, which got me thinking.

In the Ashtanga yoga tradition, Full Moons and New Moons are days of rest. With our rigorous practice 6 days per week, most practitioners look forward to the moon days as a welcome time of respite. As dedicated practitioners, it is important to understand the rationale behind this custom.

Moon days are days that fall on the Full Moon and New Moon during any given month. In Ashtanga Yoga, these are taken as rest days. During these Moon phases, the Moon exerts a strong gravitational pull that causes the tides to change in our oceans and seas.

Moon days refer to when the moon is at its most full or in its newest form and are traditionally observed in Ashtanga Yoga by having a rest from practice on those days.

In Ashtanga Yoga, we traditionally take rest from asana practice on the days of the new moon and full moon, respectively known as amavasya and purnima. On these days the gravitational forces of the sun and moon are greater and have a more significant effect on the planets.