Moon Days

FULL MOON

December 4

Moon Days

FULL MOON

January 3

February 1

March 3

April 1

May 1

May 31

June 29

July 29

August 28

September 26

October 26

November 24

December 23

2025

NEW MOON

November 20

December 19

2026

NEW MOON

January 18

February 17

March 18

April 17

May 16

June 14

July 14

August 12

September 10

October 10

November 9

December 9

Why is there no Ashtanga on Moon Days? 

Full and New Moon days are observed as yoga holidays in the Ashtanga Yoga tradition.  At The Shala Pittsburgh, we honor this tradition by not practicing Ashtanga in the Mysore classroom, which is a more traditional method of practice. Our studio continues to hold led Ashtanga classes and all other yoga classes on Moon Days.

Human beings are composed of about 70% water; as such, we, like the ocean, are affected by the phases of the moon.  Both the sun and the moon exert a gravitational pull on the earth.   The phases of the moon are determined by the moon's relative position to the sun, and these relative positions create different energetic experiences.  On these "moon days", the sun and the moon are in a line relative to the position of the earth.  As a result, their gravitation forces are all combined, and thus their effect is more pronounced.  The full moon creates an upward moving force that makes us feel energetic and emotional, but not well grounded.  The new moon creates a downward moving force that makes us feel calm and grounded, but heavy and less inclined toward physical exertion.

As we practice Ashtanga more regularly, we begin to gain a greater appreciation for these forces on our physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies.  We thus observe the moon days as a way to recognize and honor the natural rhythm of the moon cycle, and allow our bodies to rest and heal.