Rejuvenate and Cleanse Your Body: Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana

November Pose of the Month

Parivrtta Adha Chandrasana – Twisted Half Moon

Parivrtta – (Twisted or Revolved) Ardha – (Half) Chandr – (Moon) Asana – (Pose)

Level – Intermediate

We’ll transition smoothly from October into November with Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana or Twisted Half Moon Pose. You’ve built a solid framework in October by practicing Parivrtta Trikonasana with me in the studio. Twisted Half Moon is a fun pose that again requires a considerable amount of core strength and balance and all the work that you’ve done in October will definitely pay off.

Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana activates a grounding energy from the root chakra (muladhara) and releases the creative energy from the spleen/sacral chakra (svadisthana). Twisted Half Moon is a pose that stimulates the digestive system and as a result helps to cleanse and rejuvenate the body. It builds heat in the body and promotes circulation in both the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems, therefore helping to strengthen the immune system just what we need this time of year.

Twisted Half Moon will help to keep you energised, balanced and warm throughout the winter.

MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS

  • Increases confidence

  • Build mental strength and resilience

  • Rejuvenating and cleansing

  • Relieves stress

  • Reduces mental sluggishness

PHYSICAL BENEFITS

  • Improves balance

  • Improves core stability

  • Develops good posture

  • Stimulates abdominal organs

  • Strengthens ankles, thighs, glutes, obliques (waist), transverse abdominis (deep core muscles), and spinal muscles

  • Opens chest

  • Lengthens spinal muscles, groin, hamstrings and calves

THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS

  • Improves digestion

  • Relieves fatigue and anxiety

  • Boosts metabolism.

CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS

Be mindful in this pose if you experience:

  • Low blood pressure

  • Headaches

  • Insomnia

  • Diarrhea

  • Neck injury (don’t look up to your top hand just look straight ahead or down to the floor)

  • Pregnancy – Avoid this pose during pregnancy

HINTS AND TIPS

  • You can use a block underneath your hand to help lengthen the spin

  • Use the wall. – You can press your lifted leg into a wall to get feel for the amount of energy required in the raised leg.

  • Find stability in the standing leg before focusing on the twist and lifted leg

  • Try and find equal amounts of energy in both legs

  • Lift equally through the raised leg and shoulder of grounded hand

  • Try and maintain a long spine

  • Don’t lock out the knee – If you are hyper-mobile keep a small bend in the standing knee.

  • Don’t be afraid to fall… its tricky!

#NovemberPoseoftheMonth #ParivrttaArdhaChandrasana #TwistedHalfMoonPose #StandingBalance #FeelEnergised #Groundedandsteady

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