October 1st marks another Full Moon, considered by many to be a time of intense cosmic energy, which may spark a slew of emotions we are experiencing. We sat down with Sara Lynn Bruhs, BECYCLE’s resident instructor to talk about balancing the energy, setting intentions and what to expect. Sara Lynn is an internationally certified barre and yoga teacher, with a background in dance, yoga, calisthenics fitness and life-coaching. You can catch this special Yoga class at BECYCLE on Oct 1st.

1) What is a Full Moon Yoga Practice ?

A Full Moon occurs when the sun and moon are opposite from each other, gravitational pulls which influence the earth. With its pull, it changes the tides of the ocean, signifying fulfilment and completion of a cycle. It also calls for reflection and gratitude for the abundance in your life. “Full” is the term describing the moon as it reflects light from the sun - in yoga terms we are given the opportunity to sync with an element which has existed for aeons and attune to it as we would if the craziness of life wasn't getting in the way. There is also a large influx of yang energy during this time which is why embracing the yin energy and giving space to just "be" is highly beneficial. This yoga practice gives you the chance to be open for both feminine and masculine energy, keeping the balance so all else in your life can find a balance as well.

2) Why do you think it’s important to acknowledge it and how is it different from a regular yoga class?

This is a very special workshop as creating these experiences is something of great significance to me, creating space for humans to be themselves without judgment and be with pure kindness is part of my life`s work. Bringing this passion together with the forces of nature (Moon), which are our only constants within the busy phases of life, this workshop brings an entirely different feeling and experience compared to a regular yoga class. In this time together we are moving beyond the mat & you, we are moving towards removing old patterns and realising new dreams and desires - and honouring them through meditation and yoga. Leaving with a physical representation of what you have moved through.

3) How did you come to this practice, do you personally focus on the lunar calendar quite committedly yourself?

I was first introduced to Yin when I was in Dharamsala, India - where many beautiful moments took place. I was honoured to be surrounded by 30 other women and together we spent 2 hours being guided by a Yin Goddess through many deep asanas which provoked many emotions out of all of us. The experience was transformative and incomparable to anything I had ever seen, done or heard of before. It taught me so much about slowing down, listening to the body and feeling how much stress is stored in the body. Yin became my answer to all of these "ah-ha" moments since the practice is a continuous journey of releasing and accepting.

The lunar calendar was born so we could track the seasons, so it is a beautiful way for us to move through the seasons of our life compassionately. It is certainly an element I pay attention to as it gives me a gentle reminder to listen to what I really need (body, mind, heart) and realising that whatever it is "that's okay too" - also once you pay more and more attention to it, you start to notice the patterns of how it influences the body. In the end, we are composed of 60% water - can`t be too crazy that the moon influences the tides and our bodies, right?

4) What can one expect to happen in this session - give us a little rundown of this time.

One can expect to be welcomed into a warm and special curated space filled with candles, incense, matches and paper designated for you and your intentions, as well as all the usual Yin Yoga props which you would find (blankets, blocks, bolsters). We will begin with a small meditation to find what it is which we would like to let go of - integrating this and physically letting this go in real-time. Following this, we will redirect our intentions around gratitude and what we would like to take with us moving forwards - gentle yin asanas focused around "Heal, Feel, Ground". And finishing with a beautiful Savasana and meditation.

5) What are some of the surprising( and/or positive) outcomes from such a class?

A greater sense of relaxation and connectivity with the self... integrating self-love, self-acceptance and self-forgiveness so you are able to begin the next cycle in fully recharged batteries. The ability to see both sides; the dark and the light, the yin and the yang and love both sides within yourself. Just by showing up and making 1.5h of time for yourself, you are already gifting time, self-care, and trust. You are more than welcome to find out your own outcomes and share them afterwards :)

6) Who do you think would most benefit from this workshop? How should one prepare for a session?

This workshop is perfect for anyone who would like to take time out of their busy lives to let go of stress, decompress emotional blockages, and find peace within themselves, as the result will bring deep relaxation and clarity. Since this session is strongly encompassed with intentions and meditations in combination with gentle body movement make sure to eat lightly or at least 1.5h before, and dress comfortably, even feel free to bring your own blanket if you desire so. There is nothing needed to prepare, bring an open mind, open heart, and open soul - I promise to take care of the rest! Let's let go & flow!

Book your spot here.

Compiled and edited by Katia Varfolomeeva - Head of Marketing and Content at BECYCLE.

Full Moon Yoga and Meditation