Moon Day Believer
Creating more breathing room in Paris…
I was hoping to write a whole thing on Pranayama but no one seems to be teaching it anymore in Paris.
Back in the pre-Covid times, you could rely on a handful of Ashtanga- or Mysore-focused studios or teachers to offer Moon Day practices — this is when traditional Ashtangis trade their vigorous asana for breathing exercises — and of the ones offered regularly, my favorite was Kia Naddermier’s at Mysore Yoga Shala. Kia would match the moon phases (New or Full) with a lecture topic, then build out the theme through breath instruction and meditation.
I miss those monthly gatherings. They were a sweet reminder that even though we live busy lives in busy cities, we can still choose to self-organize around one of nature’s important cycles.
To mark Moon Days on my own, I’ve taken a shine to these things:
I’ve dipped into
on Substack for inspiration and writing promptsI’ve run (or thought about running) after admiring Geoff McFetridge’s Mooon Ruun postcard
While it’s easy to do Pranayama on your own, it really is better done in community when you can let other people’s inhales and exhales have a sort of entrainment effect on your own.
Moon Days and the Breath
It’s said that, like the oceans’ tides, humans and plants are affected by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon. This is why many farmers plant and harvest by the moon’s cycles, and why yogis observe days of rest during New Moons and Full Moons.
In yogaland, a new moon is imbued with a downward (like an exhalation), grounding energy, the same one associated with fertility and planting. For this reason, new moons are considered an appropriate time to explore quiet practices (pranayama, for example) rather than crazy pretzel poses. Many folks take advantage of this sense of rootedness to “plant” intentions during meditation. A full moon, on the other hand, is imbued with a rising energy (like an inhalation), one primed for harvest. Focusing on Prayanama on Moon Days is a way to align with nature’s rhythms, and harmonize your breath with the ebb and flow of nature’s tempo.
Extra credit: observe the quality of your sleep and general energy levels on new moon and full moon days. Do they change?
After the jump: 4 ways to expand your breathing and use breathwork — with one workshop scheduled on the cusp of February’s new moon — to bring about a feeling of wholeness or trippy altered consciousness (everyone’s experience is different.)
MOON OR NO, WAYS TO CATCH YOUR BREATH IN PARIS
If you’re looking for a classic Pranayama class in Paris, they seem to have disappeared and been replaced with Breathwork which is a different type of practice, one that leans on holotropic techniques more than ancient yogic methodology.
Breathe in Paris with Susan Oubari is back at Le Centre Élément, and this session will focus on “Breathwork for harmonious relationships”. Friday February 21st, 2025. 18h30-21h30. Reserve here.
Learn to master your breath to reduce stress, increase energy and improve concentration. This Breathwork event at Slowe Wellness House will be led by Sarra, the founder of Rhythmic Breath®. Saturday February 22nd, 2025. 16h-18h. Reserve here.
Interested in transcendental breathwork? Not sure what it is? This workshop with Clotilde Chaumet will explore various pranayama techniques (some traditional, some not so much) as well as a sound meditation. Friday February 28th, 2025. 19h30-20h30. Reserve here.
How about immersive breathwork? This workshop takes place at MyGinger, a micro yoga spot in the 6e that is known for its wall projections during class. Saturday March 1st, 2025. 14h-16h. Reserve here.
A weekly class that focuses on meditation and breathing? Why yes, Virginia, it does exist, at Yoga & Co in the 19e near the MK2 cinemas. Thursdays, 18h-19h (in person or online.) Reserve here.