Half-Moon Pose | Simple Yoga Lessons

Half Moon Pose is great for relieving back pain and also an amazing way to warm up your spine. Like brushing your teeth in the morning, I recommend banding your spine in all 4 directions (6 if you want to add twists). Bend right and left (Half Moon shaped) and then forward and back. Here we will concentrate on Half Moon, side bending from a standing position. It helps to do this in front of a mirror so you can really check your alignment. This posture is also great for trimming the waist-line, hips and butt. Simple Instructions Begin with your feet together, touching each other, legs straight and pressing together. Breathe in and lift your arms up over your head. Hands come together-interlace fingers (you can release your index). Bend right and left to warm you up, stretch through the center every time. Suck your stomach in (we are defining waistline here, and also want to protect your spine). Breathe in and stretch up, out of your stomach, off your hips. Bend your body to the right as you push your hips to the left. Go to where you can hold it for 30-60 seconds. Use a mirror and check your alignment. Try and get your hips and shoulders both in align with each-other and at an equal distance to the mirror. You may need to bring your left hip forward and right shoulder forward (when bending right, opposite for left bend) Notice the left side of your body. Feel the stretch from fingers to feet on the left. Also be aware of the compression in your right. Gently come back to the center and do the opposite (left) side! Simple Help Interlace your fingers behind your neck relieves some of the tension from shoulder or neck, while still getting all the benefits of a side bend. An Advanced Option When you bring your arms over your head, keep your hands together, but in a prayer position, not interlacing fingers. Go to where you are comfortable. Every day is different, keep at it! See more at: http://SimpleYogaLessons.com