DIY New Moon Yoga Retreat

🤷‍♂️ What is significance behind the new Moon?

The new Moon (or lunar phase cycle) occurs every 28-30 days during the year. It’s the time during the month when the moon is between the Earth and Sun, so it does not get it’s glow from the Sun’s reflection of light.

The new Moon is also seen as a time of new beginnings, trying new things and setting new intentions, and ideas. This is because the new Moon phase of the lunar cycle is the beginning for a new phase in the Moon’s journey.

🤔 What are Intentions?

Intentions are statements that we set, refer back to, and change as we go, not goals or resolutions.
Intentions are fluid and flowing, unlike goals which are concrete and permanent.
Setting intentions means to have a plan, a purpose, a focus.
They may not turn out as you think, but intentions will come around and bring growth and change they way you need them to.
For example, beginning a new project can be an intention of your DIY New Moon Yoga Retreat.

🌑 How do I create my own DIY New Moon Yoga Retreat?

Creating you own New Moon Yoga Retreat can be done in your own home, or going to another place to truly get away from it all. If you are able to be in your own home, alone or with a friend, that’s always a comfortable (and affordable) place to be.

As long as there are not too many distractions from the resting and relaxing intention of the retreat. I will practice DIY New Moon Yoga Retreats at my own home for one day, or a whole weekend!

📝 Here is a list of things you will need/do:

Full Moon Journal Prompts — ✅ Journal

Or notebook. Just something to write down your answers to the prompts, and thoughts, feelings and emotions that arise during the retreat.
**Journal Prompts** - These prompts will guide you to plant seeds of intention to see what will manifest in the next Moon cycle I have used these myself and have seen growth in my own life. Learn more here.
Finish this sentence: “I am setting the intention to . . .”
What am I manifesting in my life right now?
What does my heart truly desire?
What practices can I do to cultivate and create a beautiful inner world for myself?
What boundaries am I setting to support my growth and well-being?

✅ Moon Salutations

In yoga, the Moon, lunar energy and the left side of the body is considered feminine. Feminine energy is slow, cool, relaxing, more flowing. New Moons are a wonderful time to slow down and reflect on the previous month, and set new intentions for the next phase.
Begin in Mountain Pose:
Extended Mountain
Crescent Moon both sides
Goddess Pose
Star Pose
Triangle Pose
Folded Triangle
Low Lunge
Half Squat
Squat
Half Squat
Low Lunge
Folded Triangle
Triangle
Star Pose
Goddess Pose
Crescent Moon Pose both sides

✅ Practice Yoga

Here is the Moon Salutation Practice in action by my dear friend and collogue Miranda Peterson Harton, creator and founder of Namaste in Nature.

✅ Sun Salutations

In yoga, the sun, solar energy and the right side of the body is considered masculine. Masculine energy is fast, warm, energizing, more disciplined. New Moons are a time to balance more feminine energy for both men and women.
Mountain Pose
Extended Mountain (Breathe in)
Forward Fold (Breathe out)
Step Right Leg Back
Plank Pose
Lower to the ground
Cobra
Downward Facing Dog
Step Right Leg up
Forward Fold
Extended Mountain
Mountain Pose

✅Meditate

Heart Body Wisdom Meditation is for developing your center of intuition, and the Third Eye Chakra. Listen to you heart, listen to your body. What are they trying to tell you? Your inner knowing knows the way.
Download from website

✅ Meditate some more!

The new Moon is a time try something new, how about meditation? Here is my podcast Yoga with Ms. Brandon Meditation and Relaxation Practices to try out a few more meditations out during the DIY New Moon Yoga Retreat retreat.

✅ Begin a new book

The new Moon is the perfect time to begin something new. Choose a book for your own personal library and start reading on this retreat. Here are a few recommendations:
The Four Agreements: A Practical to Person Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Han
The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema Chodron

✅ Try a new food or restaurant
The new Moon is a wonderful time to try new recipes, or go to new places. Is there a new restaurant you have been wanting to try? Or a new recipe? Below is a recipe for one of my favorites, Lentil Salad:

**Lentil Salad**:
Lentils
Kalamata olives
Cherry/grape tomatoes
Kale
Cucumbers
Dill
Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil
Salt & Pepper
Click here for full recipe and more yummy salads to prepare

✅ Other Retreat Activities

Since the new Moon is a time to try something new, consider learning a new craft, or art project. Maybe even take a class to learn something new!
Vision Board - Put the intention to action with a vision board of all the things you want to manifest.
Art/Craft Supplies to create - Feeling artsy? Take time to create something.
Puzzles
Music

✅ Exercise

Go for a walk, run, bike ride, hike, paddle, anything outdoors. Being out in nature is healthy and healing. Is there a new activity that you want to try? A new place to explore? Here I am exploring a new trail on a waterfall hike in the Craggy Mountains in NC.

📆 Schedule

The DIY New Moon Yoga Retreat can be a one day event, or an evening/whole day/ morning celebration. No technology (use this time to “retreat” from the outside world and go within) The times can be based on your own routine, there is space to be flexible. It’s best to be done on a Fri-Sun weekend, but do what works best for you. Here is a general schedule to use as a guideline when setting up your retreat:

Day/Evening before the New Moon:

Begin by gathering all the supplies you will need, going shopping and prepare for this time. *Optional: turn off the cell phone. Tell your friends you will be unavailable for a short time.

6pm - 7pm: Dinner Time - Mindfully prepare your meal, eat, and clean up.

7pm-8pm: Journal Time - use the journal prompts and choose one, two or three to focus on this evening. This sets the intention for the retreat.

8pm until bedtime: Free Time - Read, relax, or meditate to prepare for bed.

Day of the New Moon

Wake up! - Whenever you like, this is a retreat weekend, so taking rest is important and encouraged.

Before Breakfast: Meditation Practice - Sit and practice one of the meditation practices, or practice your own.

8am - 9am: Breakfast time - Mindfully prepare your meal, eat, and clean up.

9am - until lunch: Free Time - use this time to do any of the things on the list. For example: Go for a walk, create art, start a puzzle, read a book, listen to music, practice yoga, journal more, try a new restaurant, take a nap, etc.

Before Lunch: Meditation Practice

12pm - 1pm: Lunch time - Mindfully prepare your meal, eat, and clean up.

1pm - until dinner: MORE Free Time - continue resting, relaxing and going with the flow. Have you taken a nap yet? Try that, it’s lovely and good for the soul.

Before Dinner: Meditation Practice

6pm - 7pm: Dinner time - Mindfully prepare your meal, eat, and clean up.

7pm - 8pm: Journal time - choose a few more prompts to write about, or continue the relaxing Free Time activities.

8pm until Bed: Free Time - Read, or listen to a relaxation podcast. Also…YOU CAN GO TO BED EARLY. 😊

Morning After the New Moon

Wake up! - Whenever you like, this is the last day of the retreat weekend.

Before Breakfast: Meditation Practice

8am - 9am: Breakfast time - Mindfully prepare your meal, eat, and clean up.

9am - until lunch: Free Time - You may be ready to end this retreat time, and that’s okay. End the retreat when you are ready. If not, feel free to keep it going with more of the free time activities: Go for a walk, create art, go to a new class, try a new restaurant, read a book, listen to music, practice yoga, journal more, take a nap, etc.

Before Lunch: Meditation Practice

12pm - 1pm: Lunch time - Mindfully prepare your meal, eat, and clean up.

🥰 AND, you are done!!

How do you feel?? Keep your journal, journaling and intentions through out the Moon’s cycle and refer back to them each new Moon to see how they are growing and changing. I like to review my intentions each new Moon to see how they are manifesting. I also like to have mini, one day or half day DIY Full and New Moon Yoga Retreats each month as time allows.

The new Moon is a time to plant seeds of intention in order to create the most magical life for yourself that you can imagine.