Suki Dalury in Ardha Chandra Chapasana, by Zoe Zimmerman for Sundara Studios 2013
The sweetness of life is worth celebrating. Every moment we live is a temporary and beautiful gift. The more we applaud and love the more we have to praise and appreciate. A regular and consistent yoga practice invites us to remember this and with every breath, every movement, rejoice and relish. Ardha Chandra Chapasana is a pose of celebration.
Begin in a standing forward fold with your feet hip distance apart and parallel. Inhale to stretch the front and back of your spine long placing both hands on fingertips on the floor. With the next inhale, stretch your left leg back behind you and exhale to rotate your left hip, stacking it on top of the right. Place your left hand on your left hip as you inhale and twist your waist away from the floor. Exhale to twist more deeply, drawing the left shoulder further onto your back.
Continuing to look at the floor, inhale to bring your left knee into your chest and take the top of the left foot into your left hand. Gently press the left knee down toward the floor as you exhale and swing it back behind you, kicking into your left hand. Using your hand draw the knee further back and let your heart follow the movement as you feel the sweet stretch across the front of your body.
If it feels good, rotate your gaze toward the ceiling as you breathe into the celebration of embodiment and consciousness. Hold for 5 to 15 breaths, and exhale to gently release your left foot extending the leg back behind you. Inhale to rotate your hips back to square and lower your foot back to the floor with the exhalation.
Repeat on the second side and enjoy.