Revolved Half Moon is an advanced yoga pose that adds a twist to Balancing Half Moon, stretching the hamstrings of your standing leg, strengthening the hamstrings of your raised leg, rotating your spine and challenging your balance even further. The added twist also stretches the outer hip of the standing leg—specifically the piriformis and glute medius.
REVOLVED HALF MOON BENEFITS
- Strengthens the foot, ankle, quad and glutes of the standing leg, which bears your full bodyweight in the balance.
- Stretches the hamstrings of the standing leg, as the hip hinges forward over a straight knee.
- Stretches the piriformis and glute medius of the standing leg, as the twist internally rotates that hip while your pelvis stabilises you against the rotating torso.
- Strengthens the glutes and hamstrings of the lifted leg, as it actively reaches back against gravity.
- Works the obliques on both sides—contracting on one to drive the rotation and stretching the other.
- Opens the chest on the raised-arm side, as it reaches up and back into the twist.
- Improves spinal mobility.
- Enhances balance, coordination and body control.
CATEGORY
SKILL LEVEL
- Advanced
INSTRUCTIONS
- Set-Up
Come into Modified Warrior 3 on your right foot.
- Action
With your fingertips resting on the mat, level your hips and press back through your left heel. Sweep your right hand up to the sky, lengthen your spine and twist your body to the right.
- Refinements
Press firmly into your standing leg. Lift up from the arch of your foot to your groin and check that your left toes point straight down.
- Duration
Hold the pose for 3-5 breaths.
- To Release
Bring your right hand down to the mat and step back to Downward Dog for the other side.
MODIFICATION: Revolved Half Moon Pose with Block
- I recommend you put a yoga block under your bottom hand to steady you in the twist so that you can work towards your best alignment.
CONTRAINDICATION
- Avoid Revolved Half Moon if you are injured as it is an advanced pose that requires considerable strength, balance and flexibility.
MASTER REVOLVED HALF MOON POSE
If you’d like to practise Revolved Half Moon as part of a sequence, watch Eyes Wide Shut—an advanced 15-minute guided practice designed to improve your balance and body control. This video can be accessed along with my full library of 360+ videos as part of the 14-Day Free Trial.
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