lunar yoga: capricorn new moon

The Capricorn New Moon lands on 1/11 this season, giving it an auspicious & invigorating feel to kick off 2024. Capricorn can be an energy of utmost intensity, an emotionally suppressed work-a-holic vibe if we’re stereotypically speaking. This is something I think we can all relate to in today’s hustle culture, where we are pressured to “make it” even if it costs your mental, physical & spiritual health.

  I had spent the first decade of early adulthood in that energy, never hitting pause, always working, studying, proving, pushing through all odds. I found my ways to cope & unhealthy habits, running on caffeine & protein bars, skipping sleep, nourishment & any sense of a “regular” routine. 

But something is shifting in 2024. For the first time I am embracing the productive energy of Capricorn in a healthy & more aligned way, enjoying the idea of repetition for once. By slowing down, releasing the old habits & hustle that does not serve me, I am making space for a supportive & fulfilling routine this winter. 

My first intention of this season is to utilize the natural cycles of energy throughout the day to avoid the winter slump. This is a concept used in Ayurveda, healing practices that originated thousands of years ago in India. As we know, there are certain natural cycles & timing to our bodies & environment. By understanding & utilizing the potential of these cycles, we can move through our days in the ways most beneficial to us.

From 2-6 AM, in the early hours, we have so much potential, the building anticipation of the sun about to rise is balanced by a sense of calm & quiet before the world awakens. According to the Ayurvedic clock, at 6 AM there is an energetic shift lasting until 10 AM. If we wake up during this time, we may notice a sense of lethargy, stagnation & reluctance to get out of bed entirely.

As challenging as it may be to get out of bed & leave the house in the middle of winter while it is still dark, I have found this adds a natural vitality to my day. Rather than at night, when my day is done & I am already exhausted, I now take the early hours of the day to exercise, stretch, steam/sauna, meditate & share a walk outside with the dog. I truly feel like I have stumbled upon these unknown extra hours of the day that somehow improve my mood, productivity & focus despite being up before sunrise.

I am also taking time to include a brief, 10 minute minimum sunrise stretch with a moment of meditation & intention for my day. This is free flowing every morning, depending on what I feel like my body needs. Again, utilizing the power behind Capricorn’s love of structure, but  softening any rigid expectations around it. I’m not going for a hard workout, just a warmup to get my blood flowing, mind working & loosen any tightness intensified by winter. 

I encourage you to find a few moments of fluidity in your morning if possible. Maybe you get your heart pumping with low lunges & chair pose or maybe you hang out in child's pose & downward dog the whole time. Regardless of what this looks like for your body, 10 minutes of calm, focused breath before the high intensity of the world is a routine worth adopting. If nothing else that day, you awoke before the sun & did something for you & that is something to be proud of.

Think of the new moon as a fresh start, the darkness & stillness before the light of the moon returns. Capitalize on the supportive energy of Capricorn to guide you in creating a new winter routine. What will you leave behind that does not serve you & what new habits are you looking to beckon in? I share with you below my intentions for the next moon cycle, feel free to journal a similar prompt on your own!  & until next moon, be well <3