Solstice in the Moonlight

32 mins

TV-G Teacher: Ashley Hixon

Solstice in the moonlight: can a lunar yoga sequence help you ground during seasonal shifts? Flow with Ashley Hixon in this intermediate Ashtanga practice.

Enter your email to start your free trial.

Testing message will be here

More Details

How do you find balance when the days grow short and the nights lengthen? Embracing a solstice in the moonlight offers a powerful opportunity to turn inward, quiet the mind, and honor the natural rhythms of the earth. This unique class invites you to experience a solstice in the moonlight as a sacred time for deep self-reflection and physical restoration.

In this 30-minute intermediate ashtanga yoga session, instructor Ashley Hixon guides you through a winter solstice yoga flow designed to cultivate deep presence and physical release. This moonlight yoga practice blends the structure of traditional Ashtanga with a softer, lunar yoga sequence, making it an ideal ritual for seasonal transitions. Experience the grounding benefits of ashley hixon yoga as you flow through steady sun salutations and supported backbends, learning to invite kindness and ease into your body during the darkest time of the year. Rather than focusing solely on intense physical exertion, this practice encourages you to find sweet pauses between movements, allowing your breath to lead the way.

By integrating props like a block and a blanket, you will discover how to modify classic postures to suit a more restorative, introspective state of mind. This approach honors the yin, or receptive, aspects of your energy, providing a perfect counter-balance to the busy holiday season. Whether you are looking to release tension in the shoulders and spine or simply want to dedicate time to quiet contemplation, this practice offers a sanctuary of calm.

Cultivate Seasonal Balance and Inner Stillness

Embodied Yoga for Seasonal Transitions: Learn how to adapt your physical practice to the winter solstice, using slow, deliberate movements to ground your energy and honor the natural cycle of the seasons.
Supported Backbends and Sun Salutations: Explore a modified Ashtanga sequence that emphasizes soft openings and gentle heart-openers, using a block and blanket to support your alignment and comfort.
Lunar Ritual Movement: Connect with the calming, reflective energy of the moon to balance the active, fiery nature of traditional Ashtanga, fostering a sense of kindness and self-compassion.

Prepare your space with a block and a blanket, and begin this winter solstice ritual movement to restore your inner light and embrace the quiet power of the season.

Teacher: Ashley Hixon

Audio Languages: English

Subtitles: English

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a winter solstice yoga practice?

A winter solstice yoga practice is a sequence designed to honor the transition into the shortest day and longest night of the year. It typically focuses on grounding, introspective movements, such as supported backbends and slow sun salutations, to help you align with the quiet energy of winter. This practice encourages mindfulness and self-compassion during a time of seasonal reflection.

How does moonlight affect yoga practice?

Practicing under the influence of lunar energy encourages a cooling, receptive, and calming state of mind, contrasting with the heating energy of solar practices. A moonlight yoga practice emphasizes slow, deliberate movements and deep breathing to soothe the nervous system. This helps practitioners cultivate inner stillness and release accumulated physical tension.

What are the benefits of practicing Ashtanga yoga during the solstice?

Practicing Ashtanga yoga during the solstice allows you to combine the structured, disciplined flow of this traditional style with the reflective energy of the season. By softening the pace and incorporating supportive props, you can experience the grounding benefits of the sequence without overexertion. This balanced approach helps stabilize your energy during seasonal transitions.

Is this winter solstice yoga class suitable for beginners?

This specific class is designed as a Level 2 intermediate ashtanga yoga session, making it best suited for those with some prior yoga experience. However, practitioners are encouraged to use props like a block and a blanket to modify the poses to their comfort level. You can stream this session on Gaia to practice at your own pace and explore these seasonal movements mindfully.