Three yin yoga poses for the new moon in Aquarius
The new moon is a powerful time for setting intentions, as it marks a time for new beginnings, giving you an opportunity to sit in grounded energy and spend some time in reflection. I find that taking some time to journal around the new moon and full moon helps me to stay in touch with my own intentions and reflect on my growth throughout each season.
When the new moon approaches, I take an opportunity to tune into the energy of the zodiac sign related to the moon phase and then center my journaling and yoga practice around this energy. Before starting your journaling or yoga practice, take a few minutes to sit in a quiet space, close down the eyes and take five to ten deep breaths. Count to three as you inhale, and count to six as you exhale. Observe the tension in the body start to dissapate as the breath slows down and the mind becomes more clear.
Journaling prompts for the New Moon in Aquarius:
"What is a deep desire or bold dream that you have during this season?"
"How can you use your authentic gifts to make an impact on the world around you, or within your community?"
The Aquarius sign is a good time to shift to a big-picture perspective. A time to shift your mindset outside of the self, and toward the impact you can make in your community or beyond- how you can make a positive impact on humanity.
As an air sign, use this time to think, communicate and DO. Tune into a sense of flow as you tap into your innate gifts and go out to change the world.
My three favorite yin yoga poses for the New Moon in Aquarius:
I use the element of air to create a short yoga practice for myself. The air element invites the use of our breath and open lungs to facilitate a sense of flow and to release stagnant energy standing in our way of not only breathing deeply, but also living deeply. Any upper body openers that expand the heart and lungs are powerful and can be effective during this time, but my focus for this particular practice is on the metal element, emphasizing the lungs. My three favorite yin yoga poses for this new moon are: Melting Heart Pose, Supported Fish Pose, and Banana Pose.
Melting Heart Pose during the New Moon: this yin yoga pose taps into the heart and lung meridians, helping you feel more deeply.
How to: Come into a table-top position. Keep the hips above the knees as you extend the arms out in front of you. Your arms can be straight or bend the elbows slightly to release tension in the shoulders. Place the forehead or chin on the earth. Maintain a steady breath as you use this pose to clear stagnant energy in the lungs. Hold for two to three minutes. Sit back into an embryo pose to rebound and observe the body.
Supported Fish Pose during the New Moon: this yin pose is exceptional for opening the lungs and is one of my favorite metal element poses.
How to: Place a block or rolled up blanket under the shoulder blades, or anywhere that feels comfortable under the upper back, as you lay down on your mat. Extend your arms to your sides with the palms facing upwards, or cactus the arms overheard for a deeper expression and opening of the front body. Legs can be extended straight, or bring the legs to a butterfly position, with optional support under the knees. Stay here for three to five minutes. Remove the block and take supine twist to rebound after the pose.
Banana Pose during the New Moon: this yin pose is a wonderful pose for the entire side body. I like to incorporate this pose for the air element and imagine the fascia around the rib cage, stretching and expanding, providing more space for the lungs to expand and breathe.
How to: Lay down on the mat and slide the legs over to the right side of your mat. Keep your hips where they are as you curve the upper body towards the right as well, creating a banana shape. Arms can extend overhead, as you see in the photo, or you can bend the elbows to hold onto the wrists or fingers if your shoulders feel tight and are pulling away from the earth. Stay for three minutes on each side. Pull the knees to the chest between each side to release tension in the lower back and neutralize the spine.
As you tune into the power of the new moon, allow yourself quiet time for introspection and reflection. You have the answers within, but we need to create opportunities for ourself to slow down and listen.
xo,
Jennison
Disclaimer: Please check with your health practitioner before starting any new practice.
