Yoga is indeed a very fascinating discipline, as its core premise is that if a human body stays in a series of certain kinds of positions for an extended period of time, the practitioner could unlock a multitude of benefits for themselves. In fact, some of those positions, or Asanas also provide the practitioners of the positions the ability to combat stress, anxiety, depression and even pre or post-pubescent aggression.
In the intricate tapestry of yoga, there exists a multitude of poses, each carrying its own essence of balance, strength, and serenity. Among them stands Ardha Chandrasana, a Sanskrit phrase that gracefully translates to “Half Moon Pose”.
In this article, we embark on a journey into the depths of this elegant posture, exploring the benefits of Ardha Chandrasana, unraveling a step-by-step guide on how to perform the Half Moon Yoga Pose, delving into the anatomy of Ardha Chandrasana, addressing important considerations regarding when not to perform the Half Moon pose, and finally, addressing common questions and doubts that may arise along the yogic journey.
Ardha Chandrasana also known as Half Moon Pose, is a pose which is supposed to connect the practitioner to the lunar as well as solar energies that surround us, which is why the position has been christened as such. Another reason behind the same is the fact that once the practitioner has performed all the steps to get into the main position, they begin to resemble the shape of a half moon peeking from the horizon.
The name itself, on the other hand, is of Sanskrit origin. It can be broken down into three parts, which are as follows:
Ardha: Half Chandra: Moon Asana: Pose
Interestingly, Half moon pose has several derivative positions and while Ardha Chandrasana is primarily known as a pose that is a part of the Hatha Yoga asana roster, similar positions which belong to other Yoga disciples have been discovered as well, confirming its seemingly long and rich history, most of which is mythological lore. As of right now, similar positions have been discovered in Iyengar Yoga’s roster as well as that of the bihar school of Yoga.
Fun fact: the pose in question has ties to the legends involving lord Shiva, who is shown wearing a crescent moon on the top of his head in his depictions as well as those of his son, lord Ganesha.
There are a multitude of benefits of making the Ardha Chandrasana also known as Half Moon Pose a permanent part of an individual’s yoga routine. Some of those are as follows:
If done right, not only does this position connect the practitioner to the omnipresent lunar energies, it also controls the secretion of neurotransmitters in your brain. In simple terms, neurotransmitters are these chemicals running around in your brain that determine your mood. Out of them, two of the neurotransmitters, namely dopamine (Which is also known as the pleasure hormone) and cortisol (The stress hormone) get affected greatly by doing Ardha Chandrasana also known as Half Moon Pose.
Disclaimer: One must not consider any part of this article to be medical advice and instead conduct their own further research. Additionally, you should consult your general physician and/or yoga instructor before even attempting to get into this pose.
Before reading further, keep in mind that the Ardha Chandrasana also known as Half Moon Pose is a challenging position and must be performed with utmost care and mindfulness. Additionally, since it is considered to be a relatively challenging pose as compared to the likes of Tadasana and Uttanasana, having prior intermediate-level Yoga experience is necessary.
If you tick that box or just want to find out about the execution process anyway, you will find the step-by-step guide below:
In order to do one whole repetition, repeat the above steps but by balancing on the opposite hand and using the opposite limb every step of the way.
Ideally, one should perform the Ardha Chandrasana position during the night time on an empty stomach and bowel for a total of 3-7 times on a daily basis for best results. It is also recommended that one must ensure that this position is not done in isolation as it requires a little bit of warm up, which can be done by performing some Tadasana, Uttanasana and the likes.
There are some circumstances under which one should definitely stay away or reconsider practicing the Ardha Chandrasana also known as Half Moon Pose. Those are as follows:
Since the Ardha Chandrasana is a complex pose, it engages muscles of almost all shapes and sizes. Some of the main ones are as follows:
However, remember that if the pressure goes beyond the bearable point, you can retract to your original position immediately to avoid any kind of mishap.
Why Is It Called Ardha Chandrasana?
The two reasons why it is called the Ardha Chandrasana are the facts that it helps you connect with the omnipresent lunar energies and while performing this pose, the shape of the practitioner resembles that of a half moon which is peaking from a horizon. The term Ardha Chandrasana is in itself a Sanskrit term, which can be broken down into three parts, which are as follows:
Ardha: Half Chandra: Moon Asana: Pose
Hence the Ardha Chandrasana is also known as the “half Moon Pose”.
What Are The Techniques Of Ardha Chandrasana?
Some of the alternative techniques of performing the Ardha Chandrasana are as follows:
Half Moon pose on a chair: This variation allows the practitioner to rest their arms on the seat of a chair instead of letting them go all the way to the ground in a prescribed manner. This variation provides the student with some body balance.
Half moon pose while kneeling: This is a less challenging version of the Asana. In this variation, the student should kneel down on one knee and put their body weight onto that instead of the entire leg. This variation is done by those practitioners who prioritize their strength goals over the body balance ones.
Half moon pose with a block and body against a wall: As you must have guessed already, this variation allows the practitioner to stand in front of a wall and a brick in front of them in order to reduce the risk of falling or losing body balance.
Floating half moon pose: This is a more challenging version of Ardha Chandrasana as it requires the student to solely balance on their dominant leg. In this version, the one hand that stays on the ground in the original version is extended forward, which engages an additional set of arm arm muscles in the process.
Bound half moon pose: This Ardha Chandrasana variation has to be one of the most challenging ones to ever exist, as it sees the student hold their hands by passing it down from between their legs.
How Can One Get Better At Ardha Chandrasana?
One can get better at Ardha Chandrasana also known as Half Moon Pose with regular practice, revisiting the basics and trying new variations. A healthy diet is also necessary for a gradual increase in pose proficiency over time.