In General
You’ll notice that my Yin yoga classes are organized around the synodic lunar cycle, and the Early Heaven Bagua. Each 29.5 day lunation includes eight specific phases of illumination. The varying illumination of the lunar surface reflects greater or lesser manifestations of Yin and Yang. The Bagua, or Eight Changes, provides a step by step progression from the New Moon, to the Full Moon, and back. That is, from the opposite polarities of Yin to Yang and back, perfectly paralleling the lunar cycle.
Of course, this is just one of many natural cycles we experience in the everyday world, Consider the four seasons, day and night, and even breathing. Athletically such cyclical dynamics offers an undulating stress and relief that results in consistent fitness progress, and an upward spiral of youthfulness. Birth, growth, maturity, decay, renewal. Nature has done the planning, we just need to follow along.
More Specifically
The Quarter Moon, while apparent for several days is actually a cardinal point in each lunation. It’s a singular instance in time and space that marks the orthogonal alignment of the Moon to the Earth / Sun axis. At this moment a fifty/fifty balance between Yin and Yang occurs, as seen by the half-illuminated lunar surface. Generally rising about noon and setting about midnight, the Quarter Moon spends half the day in the daytime sky, half in the nighttime sky. It’s a threshold between mostly Yin and mostly Yang.
The trigram of the Early Heaven Bagua associated with the First Quarter Moon is Fire. Fire is comprised of a single, broken Yin line between two solid Yang lines.
One way of appreciating the significance of the eight trigrams is to understand that they may quite literally depict what they represent. Let’s consider this Fire trigram. Imagine the broken Yin line of the trigram as a log that’s been thrown into an energetic blaze. The log is awaiting combustion by the surrounding flames, the all-consuming heat of the two Yang lines. I might point out that Fire is a Yin trigram because that log is being acted upon by the Yang flames. Its transformation is reflective of the Yang energies.
Fire is radiant, and has a direction. As the log is oxidized, it is transformed from cellulose to ash. In its state of change it represents process of Yin giving way to Yang. The Chinese character associated with this trigram, Li, uses the symbol of birds flying away as a related meaning of separation, and departure.
The day’s Yin yoga sequence will pay homage to the balance of Yin / Yang exhibited at this stage of lunation. Moving away from the longer-hold series of fold after fold, followed by bend after bend of preceding Thunder classes, this sequence alternates between bends and folds, and left and right twists. A different Yin yoga experience, with different feelings — physical, emotional — to be sure!
Find Out for Yourself
My yin yoga classes are more secular, and mechanical, and not overtly spiritual. That said, enlightenment may very well await you in any given class. But, even if not a spiritual awakening, Christopher’s Yin Yoga is always a righteous stretch!
Try this very accessible Fire class, On Demand. Scroll to Lunation 1258, and across to 09.09.24 | Fire. Enjoy!
The sequence is:
- Deep Squat (or Stirrup)
- Supported Back Extension
- Caterpillar
- Sphinx
- Dragonfly
- Seal
- Twisted Root L
- Twisted Root R
- Pentacle