The Pose

By TERESA ANNE POWER | Special to the Palisadian-Post

This month’s yoga posture is Half Moon Pose (ardha-chandrasana). It was so fun to teach Palisadian-Post Staff Photographer Rich Schmitt this bendy pose and see him in front of the camera instead of behind it! This pose is also great for kids, and I like to call it “Kite” pose.

Benefits of Half Moon Pose:

Strengthens every muscle in the body’s core, especially the abdomen.

Increases the flexibility of the spine.

Firms and trims the waistline, hips, abdomen and thighs.

Modifications:

How you execute this posture is more important than the depth. Be sure to lift out of your hips and engage your lower abdomen to help with your alignment.

Go slowly and don’t push your body beyond its limits.

If you have medical conditions, talk to your doctor before practicing this or other yoga poses.

Instructions:

1. Stand with your feet together and stretch your arms over your head, with your palms flat together and thumbs crossed. Try to keep your arms pressed against your ears as you reach high to the sky.
2. Look at one point directly in front of you and slowly bend to the right, keeping your whole body facing front. Hold this pose for 10 counts as you breathe in and out through your nose.
3. Slowly come to center position and then slowly bend to the left.

A yoga practitioner for over 35 years, Power helps children (and adults) unleash their imaginations through yoga. Since 2000, she has been teaching yoga in schools, yoga studios and local organizations, and has helped thousands of people develop a healthy attitude toward their bodies. Power is an internationally acclaimed yoga expert, keynote speaker and the bestselling, award-winning author of “The ABCs of Yoga for Kids” product line, which has been translated into many languages and sold a quarter-million copies worldwide. She is also the founder of International Kids’ Yoga Day, an annual event that celebrates the health and wellness of our youth worldwide through the practice of yoga. In 2017, she created World Yoga Power, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make the life-changing practice of yoga accessible to everyone, regardless of age, location or finances. For more information, visit abcyogaforkids.com and worldyogapower.com.