lunar yoga: leo full moon

“I am leo. The central sun, around me, the many planets dance. I shine bright, untiring, at the center of everything. I roar with joy. I smile with pleasure. My tables are full, as I call friends & family together. My wisdom is deep & my knowledge broad. I am king, queen, & ruler. My reign is supreme. And absolute. Under my protection, you will not falter. If you are loyal, I will lead you. If you love me, I will offer you the world.” 

-Andee Nathason, author & astrologer, 2020. 

In true LEO spirit, I chose to spend this full moon putting myself out there, calling friends & spiritual family together in ritual. I hosted my first ever virtual lunar yoga class & what a joy it was. Leo asks us to show up & show out, pushing us with confidence out of our comfort zone. Trying something new & extroverted like hosting a virtual session felt exhilarating & aligned with this moon.

In the tarot, Leo is symbolized by the strength card. This card depicts a woman dressed in white, taming an unruly beast or lion, by holding its jaw open. This card embodies the purity & power of the divine feminine, wild nature softened with grace. The strength card beckons us to tap into our willpower, reminding us we always have the potential of a fierce lion within. It just takes confidence in ourselves, paired with a gentle acceptance of what we can not control. The only thing limiting us to achieve all we dream, is our own mind. The strength card is number 8 in the tarot, this number mimics an infinity sign which furthermore reminds us of our endless potential.

strength card + angel oracle pull

Leo rules over the heart, offering us courage, compassion, love & a wild fire that burns deep within. It also reigns over the spine, which provides us with the integrity to stand tall in our true selves. I created this class with the intention of opening the heart as well as elongating the spine.

This moon is also called the wolf moon in many cultures, another wild & fierce creature like the lion. During this lunar cycle, take a moment to embody these animal archetypes by releasing your jaw, opening wide & letting out a howl into the night sky.

I incorporated a pranayama or breathing technique to usher in this experience during our lunar yoga class. This breathing technique is appropriately called “lion’s breath”. At first, this practice may seem a little silly, self-consciousness may creep in. But here is a perfect opportunity to utilize the power of Leo, to lighten up, have fun, release, get a little wild & uninhibited! 

You can practice lion’s breath by finding a comfortable seat on the floor, either sitting back on your heels or finding “easy pose” with crossed legs. If you are sitting back on your heels, spread your knees & place palms on the ground with arms between your knees. If you are taking easy pose, simply rest your hands on your knees. 

1. Take a few natural breaths to get intune with your inhale & exhale.

2. Take a deep inhale through your nose, expanding your lungs & filling your belly

3. For your exhale, open your mouth, let your tongue stretch out of your mouth as you audibly exhale as if you are fogging a mirror

4. You can deepen this by pressing your palms into the floor & splaying your chest open, perhaps your eyes gently look upwards as your tongue reaches out & down.

5. Repeat at least 5 times, careful not to create tension or strain in your throat

6. Finish with an open-jawed howl to seal in this full moon ritual! 

I recorded this first lunar yoga session, including a few rounds of the lion’s breath. Please feel free to check out the video below to enjoy a 45 minute, heart centered class. If nothing else, ask yourself, what will I conquer with confidence over the next moon cycle?

Until next moon,

kerry