Leo New Moon Mudra: Rudra — a practice for heart-centered leadership, stepping out of the shadows, and shining your authentic light

Welcome to the Leo New Moon:

The Leo New Moon invites you to open your heart and trust its wisdom to lead the way. This fiery lunation awakens your courage to step out of the shadows, take up space, and be seen for who you truly are. It reminds you that your light was never meant to be hidden. It was meant to inspire, to connect, and to ignite purpose within and around you. Rooted in heart-centered leadership, this moon calls you to lead by example, with authenticity, warmth, and self-trust. Let this moon remind you that shining your light is not about perfection or performance. It is about presence, and living your life with purpose, passion, and radiant truth.

Our featured Rudra Mudra embodies this fiery Leo energy, a hand shape for leadership and confidence. This mudra fuels your vitality, clarity, and focus so your self-agency can rise and you can stand as your own authority. You could also pair this practice with the reflections and embodiment practices in the Leo New Moon Embodied Workbook if you'd like to work more intentionally with this lunar energy.

And if you'd like to move through the lunar cycles in community, our memberships are here to hold you, with live classes, recorded practices, new and full moon workbooks, and an ever-growing library of supportive tools. Check out ways to practice mudras and more with our empowering yoga community on our live class schedule.

Above all, Katrina Marie Yoga is a space to practice, reflect, and remember that your heart is a trustworthy leader. Your light belongs in the light. Your confidence is not something you have to perform, it is something you already carry. You are allowed to take up space and be seen exactly as you are.

So take what you need and leave what you don't. Perhaps for now, begin by aligning with the energy of the Leo New Moon through the following mudra and the tools that accompany it.

🫶🏻 Practice Rudra Mudra:

WHEN:
Around the Leo New Moon, when both the sun and moon align in fiery Leo, illuminating heart-centered leadership, stepping out of the shadows, and shining your authentic light.

WHY:
This moon asks you to step out of the shadows and let your heart lead the way. Rudra Mudra meets you there. It supports your vitality, confidence, and self-agency, fueling the clarity and focus you need to stand as your own authority. If this shape does not feel resonant in your body, you are welcome to trade it for any hand position that supports you. Your body's wisdom always comes first.

BENEFITS:

• vitality

• energy

• confidence

• self-agency

• assertiveness

• clarity

• focus

• resilience

• supports your digestion and circulation

• supports your solar plexus (Manipura) Chakra

• connects to the fire element

HOW:

• Find a comfortable seat with both sit bones anchored. Perhaps prop your sit bones to get your hips a little higher than your knees.

• Join the tips of your index and ring fingers to the tips of your thumbs on each hand.

• Extend your middle and pinky fingers.

• Rest the backs of your hands on your knees or legs comfortably.

• Soften your shoulders and align your spine.

BREATHE:

Begin Lion's Breath — a breath practice to fuel your personal power and confidence. Leo somatically rules your heart. As you practice this, let your heart stay lifted and your jaw stay free, breathing courage into the center of your chest.

• Find any comfortable seated place with your sit bones anchored into the Earth or support.

• Keep your hands in Rudra Mudra, or choose any hand placement that feels resonant.

• Inhale deeply through your nose.

• Exhale powerfully and audibly through an open mouth with your tongue out.

• Continue for 1 to 3 minutes, letting each exhale become a place of expression rather than restraint.

When you're ready, release control of the breath and continue holding the mudra as you sit in reflection.

MANTRA:

Repeat silently or out loud as you hold the mudra, allowing the words to settle into your body and guide your intention for this new moon:

• I trust my heart to lead the way.

• I am ready to confidently step out of the shadows.

• I stand in my radiant, authentic light so I can live my life on purpose.

EMBODY YOUR INTENTION:

After an exhale, release the mudra and control of your breath, and allow your hands to rest where they feel most natural. Take a moment to pause and be with the confidence you have within you. Notice what has shifted, even just a little.

• What would life be like if you were your most radiant and confident self? What would change? What would you create?

• As the light of this new moon grows brighter, in what areas of life is it guiding you to step into the role of radiant and courageous leader?

• What energy will help you step out of the shadows so you can shine confidently in the light?

Let your body answer.

Let your breath guide you.

Let heart-centered leadership and your authentic light illuminate your next step.

Write down what rises. Let it become your intention for this lunar cycle, something to return to as this moon grows. May it support you as you trust your heart, claim your confidence, and let yourself be seen.

May this Leo New Moon support you in trusting your heart to lead the way, stepping confidently out of the shadows, and shining the authentic light that has always been yours.

You belong here — in your body, in your practice, and in our community — always, in this cycle and the next.

You belong here — no matter what. If you’re unable to invest in a membership right now, explore our Guardian Memberships through The Penny Project — a supported way to stay connected and practice with community.

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