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Half Moon Pose
Also Known as Ardha Chandrasana
About the pose/asana
If you are suffering from lack of balance and easily loose your footing, the half moon pose can be a perfect solution to your problem. This is a standing type of asana. The main objective involved in here is to attain a stable standing posture.
Benefits of Half Moon Pose or Chandraasana
* The pose helps strengthen ankles, abdomen, buttocks, spine, and thighs.
* It results in improved sense of balance and structural coordination.
* It also helps stretch chest, shoulders, groins, hamstrings and calves, and spine.
* It helps improve digestion.
* It helps reduce stress.
How to do Half Moon Pose?
1. You can begin this pose from the Trikonasana pose. Spread your feet apart. Point your left foot outwards.
2. Lift your two hands up and parallel to the floor.
3. Now slowly try to bring your left hand to your left side.
4. The aim is to touch the fingertips of the left hand to the floor. However, this would not be possible without the right leg coming off the ground.
5. Raise your right leg off the ground. Raise it till your right leg is parallel to the floor and you can feel a right angle being created between your two legs. At this time, you would be able to sense tension building up in your shoulder, groins and legs.
6. Once you have attained a stable and balanced pose on your left leg, open your chest and try to bring the right hand over your right shoulder and bring it right on top of your head, towards the ceiling.
7. Now attempt to point your gaze towards the tip of your raised hand or towards the ceiling.
8. Stack your shoulder on top of your hips.
9. Stand in the pose for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Then repeat with the other side.
More about Half Moon Pose or Ardha Chandrasana
The pose is supposed to be performed carefully if you have any neck problems. In this case, you do not need to turn your neck to the full and look up straight. Instead, you can simply elongated both sides of your neck evenly and continue looking forward.
Special Health Aspects
The pose should not be performed if you are suffering from any of the following:
* Diarrhea
* Headache or migraine
* Insomnia
* Low blood pressure
Tips for Beginners
Beginners would not be able to touch the tips of their hand on to the floor. Hence, they can make use of a prop. A wooden block would be a perfect prop to use in such circumstances. You can adjust its height according to your own comfort in stretching.
If you are unable to balance your body then you can make use of a wall as a prop.
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