The sun & moon are symbols that have been used throughout human history to tell time, to guide travelers on a journey whether by land or sea, & to illuminate the earth for all species. These two orbs of light, known as the luminaries in astrology, provoke powerful imagery in storytelling, rituals, myth, art, and so on. They point to the energy used in yoga, astrology, and other modalities.
The Sanskrit word for Hatha translates to 'force', pointing to a system of physical movement & techniques; Ashtanga, Vinyasa, & Iyengar are all under the umbrella of Hatha yoga. "Ha" in Hatha is masculine energy (yang) - the sun, & "Tha" in Hatha is feminine energy (yin) - the moon. The Sanskrit definition of yoga is 'yoke' or 'union' & in some cases, 'join' or 'bind'. So it could be said that Hatha yoga is the union or balancing of the masculine (Shiva) & feminine (Shakti) energies in the body.
The cycles of the sun & moon in astrology, known as the luminaries, also point to our evolutionary soul blueprint - our natal birth chart - an outline of our pscyhe. Like a treasure map, this energy can give direction to the ever evolving transitions & cycles we experience throughout life.
I believe the sun & moon shine inside all of us. What kind of light you are, how bright you shine is up to you! There are many ways to ignite or create a spark! Yoga is one way! And my hope, as a teacher, is to be a lantern, a light post on your journey inward to ignite your own internal light.
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