Eight-Limbed Yoga

with Rob Lucas

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Parivritta Ardha Chandrasana

Revolved Half Moon Pose

Drishti: The Top Thumb

How to

From standing, take one leg forward, the other back.  Bending the front knee, take the hands to the floor.

As you lean forward, bring the hands out away from you a little further, and lift the back leg off the floor until it becomes parallel to the ground.

Shift weight in the the right hand (perhaps coming up onto the knuckles), as you slightly shift the shoulder forward over the wrist (not necessarily dirrectly over it, however).  This helps to bring control of the balance into the hand as well as the foot.

Lift the left hand to the left hip.  Start to twist in to the pose as the left shoulder begins to move over the right.  At this point, take the left arm up toward the sky.  Look toward the left thumb.

Repeat on the left side.

Modifications

Stop at any point on the way into it.  For instance, with the leg up parallel to the floor, but both hands on the floor.

Ardha Chandrasana requires similar balance, and is a good pose to use to prepare yourself for this one.

This pose requires a twist.  The following will help you to develop this aspect of your practice (as will most of the poses listed here):

Parivrita Trikonasana, which also requires similar, but not as challenging, balance to this pose.  The movement is almost identical, if slightly simpler.

Parivritta Parsvakonasana, which is slightly deeper than Parivrita Trikonasana, but requires less balance.

Ardha Matsayendrasana, a good beginner's twisting pose.

Transitional Poses