The Moon, Your Mat & You: How to Practise with the Lunar Cycle
Talking about the moon and moon cycles is one of my favourite things to talk about — her fullness, her pull, her mystery. But what if she wasn't just something beautiful to look at? What if she was actually an invitation?
Last time, we talked about cyclical living — about what happens when we stop trying to force ourselves into straight lines and start moving with our natural rhythms instead (which you can read about here). And if that idea resonates with you, let’s take it a step further today.
Because one of the most accessible, ancient, and genuinely magical ways to begin living cyclically is to start paying attention to the moon.
She's Been There All Along
Humans have been tracking the moon for tens of thousands of years. Long before calendars, before clocks, before the relentless forward march of the modern schedule, people oriented their lives around her rhythms — planting by her light, gathering by her phases, resting and celebrating in tune with her turning.
We haven't changed as much as we like to think. The moon still pulls the tides. And the tides are in us too.
You may already notice this without realising it — a restlessness around the full moon that makes sleep elusive, a quieter, more inward feeling in the days before the new. Many people write these off as coincidence, or simply don't connect them at all. But what if you started paying attention?
The Four Phases & What They're Asking Of You
The lunar cycle lasts approximately 29.5 days, and it moves through four distinct phases — each one with its own quality of energy, and its own invitation for your practice.
🌑 New Moon — Plant the Seed
The new moon is dark and still. This is a time for turning inward — for reflection, for intention-setting, for asking yourself quietly: what do I want to grow in this next cycle?
On the mat, this is a beautiful time for slower, more introspective practices. Yin yoga, gentle breathwork, seated meditation. Let your practice be spacious and unhurried. Don't force anything. This is the moment before the bloom — trust that things are stirring beneath the surface, even when you can't yet see them.
Off the mat: Journal. Light a candle. Sit with a question rather than an answer.
🌒 Waxing Moon — Begin to Build
As the moon begins to grow in light, so does your energy. This is the time to start moving — gently at first, then with more intention as the days progress. New beginnings started at the new moon begin to gather momentum.
On the mat, you might notice more capacity — more desire for movement, more openness in the body. This is a good time to introduce a new pose you've been curious about, to lengthen your practice slightly, to notice what's building.
Off the mat: Start the thing you set the intention for. Take the first step.
🌕 Full Moon — Release & Illuminate
The full moon is all brightness and feeling. It can feel electric — emotionally heightened, energetically full, sometimes overwhelming. Things that have been quietly simmering often rise to the surface around the full moon. This is not a malfunction. This is the cycle working exactly as it should.
On the mat, many people feel most energised and expansive around the full moon. Dynamic flows, strong standing poses, movement that feels like coming fully alive — this is full moon energy. But equally, if you find yourself emotionally tender around this time, a softer, more restorative practice can be profoundly healing. The full moon asks us to feel what's there and to flow with that.
Off the mat: Let something go. Write down what's ready to be released. Step outside and let the moonlight find you.
🌘 Waning Moon — Rest & Receive
As the moon moves back toward darkness, energy naturally begins to draw inward again. This is not a falling away — it's a completion. The waning moon is the time of harvest and integration, of resting in what has been created before beginning again.
On the mat, honour the quietening. Restorative yoga, slow flows, long-held stretches, shavasana that you actually linger in. This is the phase most of us rush through, because we've been taught that slowing down is the same as falling behind. It isn't. The waning moon is where we consolidate, restore, and prepare the ground for the next cycle.
Off the mat: Reflect on what the last cycle brought you. Rest without guilt.
You Don't Need to Overhaul Everything
If the idea of syncing your entire life to the moon feels like a lot — just take it one step at a time. Breathe. You don't need to restructure your schedule or become an expert in lunar astrology. This isn't about adding more to your plate. It's about bringing a little more awareness to what's already there.
Start small. Notice how you feel around the full moon. Pay attention to whether the new moon brings a natural quietening. Keep a few notes if that appeals to you. Let the awareness build gradually, in its own time — which is, after all, exactly what cyclical living is about.
A Final Thought
The moon doesn't hustle. She doesn't skip her waning phase because she feels like she should be fuller. She doesn't apologise for being a crescent when the world wants a full moon.
She just keeps turning, faithfully and without resistance, through every phase of her cycle.
We can learn something from that.
If you'd like to explore cyclical yoga practice together, I'd love to have you in class. You can find all the details here. Come exactly as you are — whatever phase you're in.
And if you’re interested in learning more about moving with each phase of the lunar cycle, on and off the mat I'm currently putting the finishing touches on a Moon Cycle Yoga Practice Guide and if you'd like to be the first to know when it's ready, make sure you're on the newsletter list. which you can sign up for here.