HBHL - 22 April 2012 (Yoga - Half Moon Pose)

Healthy Body Healthy Lifers,

Please remember as we head into another busy spring and PCS move season, this simple phrase:  "Be nice to your body."  HBHL helps you respect your body in order to build the foundations for a healthy life.  So, if you are tempted to skip multiple workouts or to push aside the moderation rule in favor of multiple splurges, try to find that voice in your head that reminds you to be nice to your body... it's the only one you have!

HBHL - AL folks we've got a new yoga class added to the schedule this week.  Mondays at 930 - CLICK HERE for HBHL - AL Information

Things are set in motion for our inaugural HBHL Community Wellness Event on May 19th from 4-7pm.  Mark your calendars!!  Event details are below.

Powerbodyz- This week's PBz workout is posted.   Check it out:  Powerbodyz Workout

Wellness Lesson:  Continuing our yoga pose series...

Thanks again to Jessica Turner for her inputs this week!

Half Moon Pose

Ardha Chandrasana

By Jessica Turner

Sources:

www.yogajournal.com

Light on Yoga by B.K.S Iyengar

            Revisiting two themes from our previous yoga pose, Utthita Trikonasana (Triangle Pose), stress relief and using a block, this week we focus on Half Moon Pose.  Not only is this pose beneficial for relieving stress, but Half Moon is an awesome pose to use a block.  The block keeps your chest lifted and allows you to open your hips and shoulders, plus it helps keep you balanced!  Personally, this pose feels best to me when my upper body is lined up straight with my raised leg, shown below.  Remember that blocks are tools to help you achieve perfect alignment, not a crutch!  Perhaps it’s just me, but my arms are not as long as my legs, so in order to stack my hips and shoulders in Half Moon (achieving that perfect alignment), I need a block!  Play with the height of your block to see what feels best for you.

       To find your Half Moon pose, start in Utthita Trikonasana (Triangle Pose - see previous yoga blog), take your raised hand to your hip, bend into your front knee reaching your bottom hand forward (right shown).  Your hand should be place about 12 inches in front of your standing foot, and to the outside of your pinky toe.  If your hand is too close to your body, you will have trouble keeping your balance.  If your hand is not to the outside of your pinky toe, you will not be able to fully open your hips and shoulders.  Lift your back leg aiming to make it parallel to your mat.  Your hips are open, so your toes should be aiming to the side.  Flex your foot to help with your balance.  If you are sturdy, you can raise your top arm (shown).

            Once you become comfortable in your Half Moon, you can always turn your head to look up toward your lifted hand (avoid trying this if you have any neck problems, look straight ahead keeping both sides of your neck evenly long).  Another challenge in this pose is lifting your bottom hand and placing it on your heart.  This requires core strength to keep your upper body in the same position.

            Just like Utthita Trikonasana, you can check your alignment by trying this pose against a wall.  Both glutes, both shoulders, and your entire back should be against the wall.  Adjust your block until you can feel the wall in all these places.

Benefits of this pose:

·       *Strengthens the abdomen, ankles, thighs, buttocks, and spine

·       *Stretches the groins, hamstrings and calves, shoulders, chest, and spine

·       *Improves coordination and sense of balance

·      * Helps relieve stress

·       *Improves digestion

·       *Helps relieve menstrual pain

·       *Therapeutic for anxiety, backache, indigestion, osteoporosis, sciatica, fatigue, and constipation

     Counter-Indications:

·       *Headache or migraine

·       *Low blood pressure

·       *Diarrhea

·       *Insomnia

    

I hope you enjoyed this review of half moon pose!   Please feel free to ask any questions or let myself or Jessica know if you would like to feel an adjustment in this pose.  We are always available after class, hope to see you there.

Here is this week's Facebook Question, go to Facebook and share your answer:  What motivates you to work out?

Have a wonderful rest of your week!

Be Educated.  Be Balanced.  Be Fit.  Be Healthy.

Namaste,
Jannell

Jannell MacAulay, BS Biology, MS Kinesiology

Certified Yoga, Powerbodyz, Piyo and Fitness Instructor

AFAA Certified Personal Trainer

HBHL ~ Learn. Change. Grow.

healthybodylife@me.com

www.healthybodyhealthylife.org