If you want better balance, look no further than Ardha Chandrasana.
If you’ve mastered tree pose, practicing half moon is a great way to further develop your balance. Half moon pose is similar to triangle pose, with an added balance challenge.
This standing posture, also called Ardha Chandrasana, targets your leg and core muscles. It also pays homage to yoga mythology, in which the sun and moon represent two polar energies of the human body. According to the mythology, when the moon waxes or wanes, the mind is influenced.
Because your heart is higher than your head, half moon pose can help relieve stress, anxiety and fatigue. These are all results of mild inversions. Other benefits include full-body awareness, coordination and helping with low back pain.
Here’s how to do half moon pose:
- Face the front of your mat and bring both hands to your waist. Step your right foot forward.
- Bend your knees and hinge forward, bringing your right hand wide and in front of your right foot on the floor.
- Extend your back leg toward the sky. Keeping your gaze down or forward, lift your left arm to the sky and stretch your arms wide.
- To release the posture, bring your left hand to your waist and slowly lower your right leg to the floor.
As a result of half moon pose requiring so much balance, Ardha Chandrasana can be difficult for beginners. If your hand does not reach all the way down to the floor, try placing your hand on a block instead. You can also practice half moon with your back against a wall if you are struggling with balance.
Because alignment is so important in yoga, it’s better to practice with a modification than to sacrifice your form. This is why everyone looks a little bit different in our yoga videos.
Watch the video for half moon pose below, and then try a version that best suits you. If you’re interested in trying a yoga class, visit a Mercy Healthplex near you.
