Spring is such a vivid reminder of the cycles of renewal and rebirth. Of spiritual and physical renewal—who can resist the Saucer Magnolia bravely blooming with not a single leaf out yet? Or the daffodils, budding trees, returning bluebirds?
The energy is shifting, from the cocoon of longer darkness and slowing down to light returning, vitality stirring. Spring is like the exclamation point on the perpetual invitation that Earth issues all life: there is love, there is life, there is wonder and mystery ~ let’s get going.
An irresistible invitation, and I am so very deeply grateful for the annual cycle of season—the renewal of spring, the heat and apex of summer, the quiet completion and release of autumn, into the rest and reflection of winter. Within us, a magical universe exists, and outside of us, the numinous beckons. When we open our eyes to the sheer wonder of the earth, the allure and enchantments surrounding us, we affirm what has thrummed within us all along.
In this way, we approach the sky, the moon, decoding what has been whispering to us our entire lives.
As one who lives in a body that has waxed and waned with the moon each month, I know the cycles of nature are repeating, comforting, steady—both within my own body each month and outside of me each year. This is the power of recognizing that we are not just connected to nature, that we are nature. And there is nothing more affirming than tuning into our relationship with the moon.
This is what it means to find the moon path and walk it.
For me, it felt like joining a sisterhood that included every woman ever.
These days, it can seem like humanity is spiraling ever further away from nature, away from each other. Our culture is intent on teaching us to override our bodies—pushing through exhaustion, ignoring discomfort, and prioritizing productivity over well-being. Yet—what if our cycle was our greatest teacher? What if our cycle offered us the way home to harmony and happiness?
Forever and always, women have shared a quiet, powerful relationship with the moon, one built on the rhythms of nature and the cycles within our own bodies.
The moon mirrors us each month; we mirror the moon. There is a relationship that has anchored women always, since the dawn of time—our energy, moods, and needs ebb and flow. Indigenous cultures and wisdom traditions all over have honored this connection, recognizing the wisdom found in attuning to these natural rhythms. Most obviously, our cycle of menstruation connects us, yet there is more, much more. The full moon, with its bright illumination, takes us to peak energy and outward expression, while the dark moon encourages us to rest and contemplate.
Over the years, I’ve had so many women ask if connecting to the moon is still meaningful if your bleeding cycle is gone or if you’ve had a hysterectomy, and the answer is a resounding yes. Regardless of surgery or life stage, the energetic channels and subtle anatomy structures that move our life force remain. While you might occupy a body that no longer has ovaries—or a spleen or tonsils or another organ—the energetic meridians of that organ are still intact. Vitality and energy are still flowing through those pathways.
Tuning into and honoring the natural fluctuations within us and around us can be transformative. When we give attention to and honor our inner cycles, ultimately, we are empowered to find harmony with the world’s oldest rhythms—rhythms that are our birthright, meant to hold us in health and happiness. Tuning into the moon’s phases, spending time in nature—this is how we reclaim our wisdom.
This kriya has a special place in my heart. I confess to an inexplicable fondness for all variations of Frog Pose, which is said to open, free, and balance the energy of the sacral chakra, enhancing access to creative and sensual energy flow.
1. Grounding & Breath Awareness (3 minutes)
Seated in Sukhasana, rest your hands in any mudra. Bring attention to the breath, lengthening as well as deepening it. Meditate on the vitality and energy of the flow of breath for 3 minutes, with your eyes closed or holding a soft gaze. End with a deep inhale and hold the breath for a few seconds, then exhale and relax.
2. Awakening Energy: Frog Pose Activation
Come to a standing position for a powerful variation of Frog Pose. Fold forward from the waist, placing your fingertips on the floor, then squat down onto the balls of your feet with heels lifted and touching.
Inhale, lifting your hips and dropping your head. Exhale, returning to the original posture. Your arms should not move; your fingertips provide balance and anchor.
Do 10 repetitions of Frog, and on the tenth one, stay down and take three deep, complete breaths. On the third exhale, stay empty and squeeze mula bandha (root lock) for 10–20 seconds.
Repeat Frog Pose in this fashion 26 more times, again staying down on the last one. Take the three breaths and again apply mula bandha on the third exhale, sustaining the lock, void of breath for 10–20 seconds. See if you notice a flow of energy along the spine.
3. Integration & Forward Fold (3 minutes)
Relax down to a seated position, with your legs out front. Fold forward, wrapping your big toes with the first two fingers of each hand, and apply gentle pressure with your thumb to the nail of your big toe (which stimulates the pituitary gland).
Inhale, lengthen your spine, then exhale, folding forward—bringing your chest to your thighs and your head down, nose to knees. Hold this posture with long, deep breathing for 3 minutes.
This practice is a way of meeting the rising energy of spring in the body—awakening, circulating, and grounding it so it can be received.
Contrary to what you might have been told or sold—our cycles are not a problem to solve but a map to a greater understanding of ourselves. When we deeply understand our own soul, we find a wellspring of wisdom for understanding others.
Spring—drink the renewal up with every cell of your being. Look not just at the flowers and buds, but also up to the sky, to the moon as she mirrors you each month.
And join me for “The Moon Path” yoga workshop at the start of April. Sharing these ancient and sacred teachings with others is a deep honor and a profound joy. One of my favorite aspects of this weekend is how, in all the learning and familiar features of a yoga teacher training, it also feels like a retreat—a deeply nourishing “coming home.”
You don’t have to take my word for it. Join me and experience it for yourself—let’s come home to ourselves together.
Sierra Hollister is an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher, author, and longtime faculty member at Warren Wilson College who has been sharing the practice of yoga since 1992. A self-described “yoga universalist,” Sierra draws from a wide range of traditions—including Kundalini, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and restorative practices—while holding Kundalini as her central, heart-rooted path.
Her teaching is rooted in devotion, earth-based wisdom, and a deep reverence for the interconnectedness of all life. Known as a “teacher’s teacher” throughout the Appalachian region, Sierra’s work integrates movement, mantra, meditation, and subtle energetic awareness to support both personal transformation and collective healing.
Sierra is the author of Moon Path Yoga (Shambhala Publications), a reflection of her lifelong relationship with the rhythms of the moon and the wisdom of cyclical living. Her classes and trainings invite students to move beyond technique and into embodiment—where yoga becomes not something we do, but something we live.
In addition to her teaching, Sierra is co-founder of the nonprofit Light a Path, which brings yoga and somatic practices to underserved communities, including those who are incarcerated or in recovery. Through all of her offerings, Sierra’s work is guided by a simple intention: to help people remember their connection—to themselves, to each other, and to the living world.
The post Spring Renewal & the Moon Path: A Practice for Aligning with Your Natural Cycles appeared first on Asheville Yoga Center.