Pose of the Week ~ Half Moon ~ Ardha Chandrasana

This has been a pose that I want to like, after all the name seems so eloquent to me. Instead this pose has become my nemesis, especially as of late. I can not seem to hold my balance in this pose without toppling over. It is a humbling pose, especially because I remember when I first started practicing yoga I could do this pose free hand...no block needed...and now of course I am humbled, and require a block and a lot of patience. So...I must practice!

Picture source: Yoga-Training-You.com

Some Tips for this pose:

• Use a block under your bottom hand to help stabilize you
• Practice this pose against a wall to build balancing strength
• Keep top hand on hip before raising arm to sky
• Gaze forward
• Remember to flex your extended legs toes and feet towards the side wall (not down toward the floor)

Some ideas to take this pose deeper

• Gaze toward the sky
• Remove block, keeping finger tips on the floor or possibly lifting finger tips off the floor
• Challenge balance by bending extended leg's knee, and reaching around with bottom hand to grab foot - a gentle balancing back bend

Benefits of this pose:

• I was surprised to read this pose aids in digestion
• Improves coordination and balance
• Strengthens abdomen, ankles, thighs, buttocks and spine

Here are some websites with some great tips on how to get into the pose:

http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/784

http://www.fitsugar.com/Strike-Yoga-Pose-Half-Moon-2671101