As a rule practically unanimous, Ashtanga Yoga schools around the world close their doors to the usual activity during what is known in the jargon as “moon days”
Those days in which the moon phase coincides with the moment of maximum exposure (full moon) or maximum occultation (new moon) there is no practice. This tradition is inherited from the days when Sri K. Pattabhi Jois worked as a yoga teacher at the Sanskrit College in Mysore City. At that time it was customary in Indian educational institutions to interrupt classes on moon days so that students would have a free day to perform the usual practices of the Hindu tradition embodied in the form of rituals, offerings and prayers.
Once Pattabhi Jois developed his personal project called Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute he transferred that custom of not practicing yoga on moon days.
The night, the moon and the transcendental have always gone hand in hand
The moon is an element that has been very present in most cultures and civilizations. The great festivities and celebrations of both East and West are related to the lunar calendar.
From Diwali, Maha Shivaratri or Ganesh Chaturthi in India to Muslim Ramadan, Jewish Passover or Catholic Holy Week. These are the names of some of the most familiar events but the list could be endless. In this context, let us not forget either that electric light has been a very recent invention in the history of humanity. And that for a merely practical fact that it was “to be able to see at night” the festivities, liturgies, commemorations and any type of relevant social gathering were celebrated coinciding with the full moon.
In our Ashtanga Yoga school we do NOT attribute any magical or esoteric power to the moon
We DO NOT believe (as some claim) that throughout those days there is a special energy that increases the possibility of injury. The different lunar phases do not make the moon more or less present. It is simply a different vision perspective produced by the relative position between the Earth and the Moon.
Our reasons for not teaching moon days are basically three:
Preserve the tradition and legacy of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
This also cultivates a sense of belonging and community to a very large human group of Ashtanga Yoga practitioners and schools around the world
Honoring and becoming aware of the cycles of nature.
The modern human being, especially the inhabitant of big cities, has drastically detached himself from something essential such as natural rhythms and cycles.
Provide 2 extra days of rest per month.
For students who are more intensely committed to the practice of Ashtanga.
Ashtanga Yoga students are very aware of the lunar cycles. Maintaining a close connection with nature is very important both psychologically and emotionally.
Moon Calendar 2020
January
Day 10 Friday
Day 24 Friday
February
Day 9 Sunday
Day 23 Sunday
March
Day 9 Monday
Day 24 Tuesday
April
Day 8 Wednesday
Day 23 Thursday
May
Day 7 Thursday
Day 22 Friday
June
Day 5 Friday
Day 21 Sunday
July
Day 5 Sunday
Day 20 Monday
August
Day 3 Monday
Day 19 Wednesday
September
Day 2 Wednesday
Day 17 Thursday
October
Day 1 Thursday
Day 16 Friday
Day 31 Saturday
November
Day 15 Sunday
Day 30 Monday
December
Day 14 Monday
Day 30 Wednesday
Full moon
New moon
Full moon
New moon
Address
Plaza del Conde de Miranda 1 - local 1
28005 Madrid (España · Spain)
Public opening hours
10 min. before or after the afternoon classes or by appointment via e-mail.
+34 641 16 37 07
+34 641 16 37 07 
Subway
Sol / L1-L2-L3 / Ópera / L2-L5 / La Latina / L5
EMT Buses
3 / 17 / 18 / 23 / 31 / 35 / 50 / 65
Renfe Cercanías
Sol / Principe Pío (branch to Opera)
Bici Mad
Station 9 (San Miguel Market) / Station 35 (Plaza del Cordón)
Car & Scooter Sharing
EMov / Car2GO / Cooltra
Parking
Public parking of Plaza Mayor at 200 meters.
The rate for 90 minutes is 3,50 €.
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