This article appears in Her Family August 2015.
The Half Moon strengthens the abdomen, legs, ankles, and hips. It also improves balance and coordination, fights fatigue, and helps alleviate menstrual pains.
Position legs about 3 to 4 feet apart. Turn right foot out at 90 degrees. Align right heel with left heel.
Place your left hand on your left hip, exhale, and bend the right knee.
Engage the belly. Place right fingertips to the ground, about 1 foot in front of toes (or on a block) while firmly pressing into the right heel.
As you exhale, distribute all weight into right foot. Slowly straighten your right leg as you lift your left leg until it is close to parallel with the ground.
Press through the left heel to keep the lifted leg strong and active.Keep a micro bend in the knee.
Pull your left shoulder back to open through the chest.
Keep your left hand on your left hip, or reach the hand up towards the sky.
Gaze forward and breathe deeply for 15 seconds.
To come out of it, slowly bend the right knee while you lower the left leg to the ground.
Straighten the right leg, and repeat left side.