lunar yoga: cancer full moon

Thank you for reading this first lunar yoga post! I start this series on the final full moon of 2023, the Cold Moon during Capricorn season. Reaching its peak on the 26th into the 27th of December, this full moon sits in the sign of Cancer, the cosmic crab. 

Nestled in the holiday season, this moon provides a time of solace & rest to nurture ourselves. This time of year can be deeply emotional with lots of ties to family, traditions, expectations, worth, etc. This moon offers the perfect moment to disconnect, quiet the mind & return to the body.

All astrological signs are associated with a part or parts of the body, a continuous theme we will explore during the lunar yoga series. Capricorn rules the skeleton, the framework & protector of our body that supports us through each day. During this season, we may place a lot of focus & attention on structure, drive, determination & rigidity. 

This is contrasted by Cancer, the crab, which is known for its hard outer shell with a soft interior. Cancer can be beautifully emotional, intuitive, nurturing & healing, a pure embodiment of divine motherly energy. For this reason, Cancer rules the chest & belly, spots in the body that connect us to our mothers. 

The full moon is a time for reflection & introspection, especially during the quiet stillness of winter. Closely following the winter solstice, this moon occurs in our darkest & shortest days of the year, bringing with it a sense of hibernation & pause. Take a moment to appreciate all that you have done since the last full moon in November. Since this is the last moon of 2023, perhaps you look back at your year & focus on a few small moments or large milestones that you are proud of. 

Give thanks to your body that has graciously carried you for another trip around the sun. Do not worry about where you are going or where you have been, take a few deep breaths in the present & for one evening, under the light of the full Cold, Cancerian moon, just be. 

I have put together a few yoga poses that I feel embody the energy of this full moon. Please perform in whatever sequence works for you, spending at least 5-7 breaths in each pose, again, finding stillness & letting the pose support you. Use props as needed & please respect your body’s boundaries & abilities. 

balasana or child’s pose. 

Resting your shins on the mat, sit back towards your heels. You can either sit on your heels with knees together & torso on your thighs or open your knees & lay your torso down towards your mat. Arms are outstretched by ears, palms flat on the mat & forehead on the mat. 

*rock forehead back & forth on mat to massage the 3rd eye or the anja chakra for a more cancerian experience*

modification: place folded blanket under sits bones & on top of feet for a more gentle bend to the knee. 

supta matsyendrasana or supine twist.

Laying on your back, shift your hips to the right & bend your right knee to come across your left as you let your right foot rest on the ground. Bring arms out to a T, resting on the mat or place left hand on right thigh to deepen twist. Lengthen spine & expand belly as you inhale, twist a little deeper as you exhale. Repeat on other side by shifting hips to left & bending left leg across the body. 

matsyasana or supported fish.

Starting from a seat, place a rolled up blanket at the base of your spine towards your head. Recline onto the blanket so your spine is laying on top of it, bring arms away from the body in a comfortable position with palms facing up. Head should be resting on the floor slightly lower than your elevated spine on blanket. Feel a gentle, chest opening stretch with relaxed shoulders & neck. 

apasana or knees to chest.

laying on your back, bring your knees in towards your chest. Wrap your arms around your knees as you give yourself a tender, loving squeeze! Feel free to rock back & forth which may gently massage your back. 

I hope you enjoyed this lunar yoga series & see you next moon! Welcome to 2024!