Pose Practice

Ardha Chandrasana- Half Moon Pose

We all know that practice makes perfect!  So, we will be updating the site regularly with a Yoga pose, along with a description of proper alignment (so you can practice at home) and an explanation of the poses benefits. For fall we are featuring Ardha Chandrasana, Half Moon pose.  Enjoy!

This pose develops strength in the hips and back, coordination of the rhythm of movement with breath, and develops balance and poise. The health benefits include toning of the lower region of the spine and the nerves connected with the leg muscles, strengthening of the knees and cures gastric troubles.

Try It!

Suzy Pennington in Ardha Chandrasana- Half Moon Pose

Stand in Tadasana (mountain pose).

Bring your hands up in front of your chest and inhale, jump out 4 - 4 ½ feet.

Turn the right foot out 90° and the back foot in slightly.

Square the hips and ribs to the wall in front of you.

Exhale, pull the right hip back from the knee as you bend to the right, placing the right hand on the leg.

Extend the left arm up over the left shoulder. This is Trikonasana (triangle pose).

Drop the left arm to the left hip and turn the head, look at the right foot.

Bend the right knee, hop forward with the left leg and shift your weight forward onto your right leg and right hand.

Now lift the leg up hip-height while straightening the right leg.

Pull both thighs up and roll the right thigh out, bringing the right sit-bone in line with the right knee.

Lift the right hip up away from the right thigh.

Roll the left thigh out so that the left hip and left ribs face forward.

Lengthen the sacrum away from the waist and lift the sternum.

Raise the left arm over the left shoulder.

Turn the head and look up at the left hand.

Hold for 30 seconds or longer.

To come out of the pose, bend the right knee, lower the left leg to the floor, then straighten the right leg into Trikonasana.

Inhale, come up, exhale, turn the feet forward and repeat on the other side.
 

Pose Practice Archives:
Tree Pose
Half Moon
Forward Bend
Virabhadrasana I - Warrior I
Virabhadrasana II - Warrior II
Virabhadrasana III – Warrior III
Full Arm Balance
Upward Bow Pose or Backbend
Half Lord of the Fishes Pose
Revolved Triangle pose
Powerful Mighty
Wide-Legged Forward Bend
Upward Facing Angle
Intense West - Back Stretch Pose
Extended Side-Angle Pose
Staff Pose
Upward Facing Dog Pose
Mountain Pose
Extended Hand to Foot Pose
Trikonasana - Triangle pose
Parighasana Gate Pose