Discover the flexibility in body and mind to look at life and yourself from a different angle! This week’s pose, Revolved Crescent Lunge, is taking the same foundation of last week’s pose and adding a twist to look at a new angle.
Benefits:
Strengthens the legs and core. Stretches the side waist, front leg hamstring and the back leg hip flexors. Improves digestion, balance and may relieve low back tension.
How to:
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Begin in mountain pose tadasana. Feet about hip-distance apart (heels in line with the center of the sitting bones)
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Step your left foot towards the back edge of the mat high on the ball of the back foot, keeping feet hip distance apart
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Bend the front knee so knee is stacked over middle of ankle
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Bring palms to touch thumbs on the sternum at heart center
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Hinge the torso forward on about a 45 degree angle
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Twist to the right
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Shift the thumbs slightly right of the center of the chest to place left elbow on right thigh (note: it is anatomically impossible for almost all bodies to keep hands at heart center and twist enough to rest the left elbow on the right thigh without it going into the joints which is counterproductive – yikes!)
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Front knee pointing the same direction as the second toe
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Gently draw low belly in and pull the front right hip back.
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Reach the sternum away from the navel as open across the chest
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Hold and breathe for 3-5 breaths.
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To release square the shoulders back forward, plant the hands on either side of your front leg foot, step back foot forward into Uttanasana, Standing Forward Fold then stand tall back up to Tadasana, Mountain pose.
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Repeat on the other side.
Modify it:
If you feel unstable then release the back knee to the mat into Anjaneyasana, Low Lunge. If you want to work extra to strengthen the core then keep the hands at heart center twist, hover and hold without resting the elbow on the thigh for support.