Asana Spotlight

Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana)
Embodying Balance, Strength, and Lightness

Each month, we spotlight a yoga pose to explore its benefits, alignment tips, and variations. For June--and in celebration of the upcoming summer solstice--we’re turning our focus to Half Moon Pose, or Ardha Chandrasana.

This elegant standing balance invites you to find both stability and spaciousness, strength and surrender. With one leg rooted into the ground and the heart and limbs radiating outward, Half Moon reminds us how to stay grounded while reaching for the light.

Why Practice Half Moon?

Half Moon Pose strengthens the legs, glutes, and core while opening the chest, shoulders, and side body. It’s a full-body experience that requires focus, coordination, and presence. Energetically, it’s a beautiful way to balance effort and ease, and an ideal shape for the season of light and transformation.

How to Practice Ardha Chandrasana

• Begin in Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) or Extended Side Angle (Utthita Parsvakonasana).
• Shift your weight into your front foot and float your back leg so it’s parallel to the floor.
• Stack your hips and shoulders, keeping the lifted foot flexed and engaged.
• Reach your lower hand to the ground beneath your shoulder, placing it on a block if needed for support.
• Extend your top arm to the sky.
• Choose your gaze - up, down, or forward--based on your neck comfort and balance.
• Stay engaged through your core, and reach your top leg with strength and lightness.
  

Variations to Explore

• Support your balance: Practice against a wall or use a chair for added stability.
• Stay grounded: Keep your top hand on your hip to simplify the shape.
• Go deeper: Bend your lifted leg and reach for your foot with your top hand to try Sugarcane Pose (Chapasana). Use a strap if you need extra length!

A Note on the Practice

Balancing poses are as much about patience as they are about strength. Some days you’ll feel steady and lifted, but on others, you might fall out ten times--and it's all okay! Every wobble is part of the journey toward balance, both on and off the mat.