Since 2020, our classes are held independently of the lunar cycle. Even on full moon days, you can practice asana, meditation, and pranayama with us in Mysore Style class. Or take a break.

In India, full and new moon days have a special significance. Mr. Jois from Mysore did not teach on these days and many Ashtanga Shalas follow his "rule". Ashtanga Yoga Berlin was also closed on full moon days for many years. However, the reasons for this were never convincing.

Over the years, we realized that there are many details in the yoga practice that have very understandable effects, especially on the quality of the practice. We focus on these in our teaching and have become very good at imparting a very intense yoga practice free from injuries.

However, we also had to realize that unlike what seemed to be believed, the moon did not seem to have any noticeable effect on the yoga practice (which is scientifically obvious anyhow).

Therefore, we have decided to keep our yoga school open even on "moon days".

Everyone is invited to practice asana, pranayama or meditation particularly consciously on these days or give their body a break. This is worthwhile every single day. But we no longer want to dictate doing something specific or not doing anything on these days.

Day, week, season, and year are natural units for dividing lifetime. They are losing their significance more and more. Nowadays, one can hardly look forward to a clearly defined Sunday or even just the end of the workday. Often, one must be productive daily and around the clock. Similarly, the lunar cycle gives rhythm to the year.

Such a monthly cycle allows for systematically expanding yoga practice through various Pranayama and meditation exercises that have emerged in the yoga tradition. Only when practiced regularly can they become a habit and fully unfold their effects.

The great freedom of Mysore-style teaching with long practice times has the disadvantage that advanced practices like meditation and Pranayama are difficult to integrate into regular schedules outside of workshops.

Instead of teaching on full moon days as before, we will now offer a Pranayama class on the first Sunday of each month before Mysore-style classes.

This makes it easier for us all to plan ahead.

It is up to each individual whether to believe in mystical energies during full moons beyond long-term gravitational effects and average changes in moonlight reflection. One must be cautious due to vague use of the term "energy," as nonsense lurks everywhere.

One often hears: The moon moves ocean waters; therefore, it must have a significant influence on humans who consist two-thirds water." This sounds so convincing that it can only be wrong.
The moon certainly affects Earth. However, its "real existing measurable" forces are quite weak - easily calculable too! Its gravitational effect on a human body is almost immeasurable!
Yes, over millions of years, it has set oceans in motion but cannot significantly move a lake. How much will it affect our bodily energies monthly? In a cloudless half-moon night, we receive more "energy" from the moon than on an overcast full-moon night. A street lamp outside your window disrupts sleep more than does the moon.

The moon is always there; sometimes more or less shaded by Earth. It's simple and non-mystical altogether.
Births, earthquakes shipwrecks human psyche even sleep patterns(!) were studied without statistical evidence. Nevertheless: A (supposedly!) purely scientific view of world alone doesn't make people happy.

Virtually all traditions dealing with human happiness emphasize cyclically structuring life with phases of rest work vacation regular relaxation etc.
Maintaining inner connections with specific days places objects experiences or actions also brings happiness And this is crucial not whether something is demonstrably "holy!"

 

I'm looking forward to next full-moon day especially if Zeus doesn't put real stones in my path for practice :-)

Grischa Steffin 2019