Embracing Imperfection
Embracing Imperfection
Use the Full Moon to illuminate and then shed, release and let go of thoughts and beliefs that no longer serve you.
About every 28 days the moon passes through a full lunar cycle. Scientifically they are identified as the following eight phases:
🌑 New Moon
🌒 Waxing Crescent Moon
🌓 First Quarter Moon
🌔 Waxing Gibbous Moon
🌕 Full Moon
🌖 Waning Gibbous Moon
🌗 Last Quarter Moon
🌘 Waning Crescent Moon
The Basic Practice - side bend (standing crescent)
Side bends stretch the muscles in between the ribs (intercostal muscles). When tight, these muscles restrict breathing. Additionally, side bends stretch the abdominal muscles and digestive organs; thus aiding and regulating digestion, elimination and metabolism.
Posture set-up:
approach your body with softness, gentleness and kindness
come to standing (can be done sitting)
feet hip width apart
toes pointing forward
soft bend in knees
gently relax the shoulders down (wiggle them) allowing sides of neck to release
warm up with a few shoulder traces
respect your limits, modify where needed
Keep within a “Pain Free Range”, in particular, if currently experiencing lower back, sciatica, neck and/or shoulder issues. Pain (ouch, cramping) is a signal to our conscious brain to pull back and rethink what we are doing.
Standing Crescent - side bending left:
ground your feet to the earth
press lightly toe knuckles into the earth, then let go
press into foot tripod: big toe mound, little toe mound and heel
sense energy from the earth lifting your inner foot arches
engage lightly inner thighs, sides of hips and buttocks
inhale and lift arms up
turn right palm upwards
with left hand grasp right wrist
centre here, take a few breaths
TIPS:
lifted arms can be slightly in front of head
feel both sides of torso even and long
press right foot into the earth while also pressing right palm skywards
bend over to the left while exhaling
TIPS:
bend in the direction that fingers of turned up palm are pointing
keep a soft knee bend and slight hip hinge (let buttocks go back a bit)
avoid twisting of torso, keep head and shoulders facing forward
although side bending, keep bend elongated - avoid collapsing
inhale come back to centre
repeat side bending to left for a total of three to seven times
Standing Crescent - side bending right:
ground your feet to the earth
press lightly toe knuckles into the earth, then let go
press into foot tripod: big toe mound, little toe mound and heel
sense energy from the earth lifting your inner foot arches
engage lightly inner thighs, sides of hips and buttocks
inhale and lift arms up
turn left palm upwards
with right hand grasp left wrist
centre here, take a few breaths
TIPS:
lifted arms can be slightly in front of head
feel both sides of torso even and long
then press left foot into the earth while also pressing left palm skywards
bend over to the right while exhaling
TIPS:
bend in the direction that fingers of turned up palm are pointing
keep a soft knee bend and slight hip hinge (let buttocks go back a bit)
avoid twisting of torso, keep head and shoulders facing forward
although side bending, keep bend elongated - avoid collapsing
inhale come back to centre
repeat side bending to right for a total of three to seven times
Explore the Movement
alignment is a technique - there is a correct and incorrect way (ha - sun - yang)
noticing is an inquiry - there are no right or wrong answers (tha - moon - yin)
harmonize both concepts through playfulness
Hatha Yoga is about harnessing and harmonizing two opposing energies (sun and moon).
When doing a practice notice when you are being self-critical like “I need to get this right” knowing times when this is appropriate and times when it is not.
Then notice when you can allow your body to be okay where it is at today like “oh, now isn’t that interesting”.
Harmonize the two concepts through playfulness (a sense of ease) and a sense of experimentation. Through playfulness it is much easier to find kindness, gentleness and acceptance.
Explore bending from side to side and noticing the difference between bending to one side only.
Turn the Standing Crescent into a balance posture. Have fun and know it is okay to be wobbly. Put your foot down when you need to.
Yoga Practice
Yoga has many postures which reference the moon. The Standing Crescent is one of them. The ‘tha’ in Hatha Yoga represents the lunar feminine energies. It should be noted that feminine and masculine energies are within every human being regardless of gender. There are some practitioners which adapt their yoga practice to reflect the lunar phases of the moon.
Everyday Living
This week we had a full moon. From a yoga perspective it is the ideal time to shed, release and let go. It is also full of feminine healing energy and brings about awareness and illumination.
Personally, I am working on letting go of my perfectionist tendencies. It is hard! Each week I look at myself in the pictures and notice something I want to correct. And then realize, it is okay. It was fun taking the pictures and there is always another opportunity to try again. Let go and move on :)
Discover Amazing
Life is actually intended not to be perfect. Creativity cannot exist without imperfection. Life is here to be experienced in the best way possible. Each of us is a creative expression of life.
As a friend told me, “the most beautiful wood veneers come from imperfections within the tree.”
Embrace imperfection with playfulness and discover your amazing beauty within!
Namaste, the Light in me honors the Light in you
keep moving — health is movement and movement is health
Disclaimer: Be safe and move wisely without causing harm. Information provided in this newsletter is for you to explore and discover how your body works. It is not to diagnose any medical condition. Please consult with a physician or physiotherapist if you have concerns.
https://www.healthline.com/health/mind-body/how-to-sync-your-yoga-practice-with-the-phases-of-the-moon#practice-tips
https://www.healthline.com/health/mind-body/how-to-sync-your-yoga-practice-with-the-phases-of-the-moon#practice-tips