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Ardha Chandrasana. Intro, Benefits & How To Perform

Yoga includes a variety of poses that support the lower body’s health. Ardha Chandrasana, or Half Moon Pose, is one of the asanas that strengthen your ankles and legs. In this article, we will examine every aspect of this. If you practice Ardha Chandrasana yoga every day, it can increase blood flow to the brain because when we perform this asana, our heads move downwards against gravity, which helps in the blood flow.

Meaning and Derivation

Ardha Chandrasana derived its name from the Sanskrit words “Ardh” meaning “half”, “Chandra” meaning “Moon”, and “Asana” meaning “Pose”, that’s how it got its English name Half-Moon Pose. Ardha Chandrasana yoga brings balance and awareness to the body. The Sun and Moon have great importance in yoga; Half-moon poses advantages in channelling the lunar energy to our bodies.

Half Moon Pose is a standing and balancing asana for intermediate levels in which we must balance on one foot while leaning forward. This asana strengthens the flexibility of various body parts by stretching them.

Table of Contents

How to do Ardha Chandrasana Yoga?

Before stepping into how to do Ardha Chandrasana, you should know a few required points. The half-moon pose should be practised on an empty stomach, preferably early morning. If you are not a morning person, ensure you had your food 3-4 hours before practising this yoga.

Method of doing Ardha Chandrasana Yoga

If you are not aware of how to do Ardha Chandrasana, here are a few steps you can follow:

  1. Start with Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) with your right leg extended. Bring your left hand close to your hip while gently bending your right knee.
  2. In front of your right foot, bring your right hand to the floor. Your hand should be under your shoulder when you are in the full pose. To get it in the right place, place it about a foot in front of you and 5 or 6 inches to the right of your right foot. Tent your hand so that only the tips touch the ground.
  3. Start straightening your right leg and lifting your left foot off the ground simultaneously. Maintain the straightest leg you can.
  4. Open your hips and stack the point of your left hip on top of the point of your right hip.
  5. Straighten your left leg so that it is parallel to the ground. Flex your left foot strongly, with your toes pointing toward the left side of the room.
  6. Reach the left arm up toward the ceiling while opening your chest and keeping the right and left arms perpendicular to the floor until you feel balanced on the right leg.
  7. Last but not least, turn your head so that your eyes are directed toward your left fingertips.
  8. Before lowering the left leg to the ground and repeating the pose on the opposite side, maintain this balance for about five breaths.

Releasing the pose

 When you are done, bring your left hand to the left side of your body to release the pose. Now, lower your left leg as you slowly bend your right knee. After that, stand straight while putting your left foot on the floor and raising your right hand off the ground.

While performing Ardha Chandrasana yoga, people generally make common mistakes. Try not to rotate your chest towards the floor. A common reason for this is straining to reach the floor with your hand. Putting a block under the right hand can give you more elevation, allowing the chest to open toward the ceiling more efficiently. Avoid overworking your body. Do not force your body to stretch further; stretch the body until you feel comfortable.

Tips for Beginners

 At first, it might be hard to keep the grounded leg straight. Therefore, bending the standing leg slightly but not excessively is acceptable. You can support yourself by placing a yoga block underneath your lower hand if you cannot do so. Additionally, you can initially rely on the support of the wall behind you. If you need assistance, you should ask a partner or your instructor for it.

Benefits of Ardha Chandrasana Yoga

 Here are some benefits of Ardha Chandrasana:

The Half-moon pose is a great asana for the legs, strengthening the knees, ankles, and legs. It is said that this pose strengthens the spine and abdomens. It also tones the body’s muscles. As we know, Ardha Chandrasana yoga is a balancing pose, so it helps to increase our focus. It is said that doing this pose regularly benefits digestion and cures problems related to the urethra and uterus in females. Like other asanas, the half-moon pose improves body flexibility. It also improves cardiovascular health.

This exercise stretches the hamstrings and strengthens the thighs and ankles. It strengthens your core and balance. If you are a runner, tight hamstrings are often problematic, but yoga poses such as Ardha Chandrasana can be helpful. Better balance and a strong core are essential for almost all sports and daily activities, especially as you age.

Your body’s balance and coordination will gradually improve with Ardha Chandrasana. It improves mobility and reduces body stiffness. If you practice Ardha Chandrasana regularly, you can reap the following benefits. The muscles in the lower back are stretched nicely in this asana. As a result, it helps alleviate back pain and maintain spine health. It alleviates gastritis, indigestion, and constipation by massaging the core organs. It makes your knees, calves, and ankles more flexible and stronger.

Who should not perform Ardha Chandrasana Yoga?

 In the following condition, you should not practice this yoga:

  • You should not perform this asana if you have suffered a severe or recent injury to your legs, back, shoulder, or arms.
  • You should avoid performing this pose if you are a low blood pressure patient.
  • Don’t do Ardha Chandrasana yoga if you are suffering from diarrhoea.

This asana requires mental awareness in addition to physical strength and balance. Fear of falling is the most common reason people find balancing asana difficult. Therefore, you need to conquer this fear first. Once you overcome your fear of falling, you can easily perform this pose. Ardha Chandrasana yoga is an advanced pose and should be practised under proper guidance. If you are a beginner, start with simpler poses and gradually move up to the more advanced ones. With regular practice of this asana, you will be able to perform it easily and reap the benefits of Ardha Chandrasana.

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