Ardha Chandra Chapasana (Half Moon Sugar Cane)
Happy Almost Fall, Yogis!
As we approach the Harvest Moon (this year also a Supermoon and partial eclipse) on September 17th, we invite you to align your practice with this triple threat luminous event. Ardha Chandrasana, or Half Moon Pose, is a perfect way to honor the moon’s energy, and since this celestial event calls for a little something extra, feel free to challenge yourself further into its natural progression, Chapasana (Sugar Cane Pose).
This pose opens our hearts and balances the body, mirroring the moon’s grace and luminosity. A block is recommended to help get into and stabilize the pose.
Ardha Chandra Chapasana How To:
1. Start in Hot Triangle, placing the bottom hand slightly forward of your toes, possibly onto a block.
2. Bend deep into the front knee and take off with the back leg into Half Moon. Stack the hips and shoulders while flexing the back foot, toes reaching toward your nose. Feel free to stay right here.
3. For Chapasana, bend the top knee into the chest, while the top hand captures your ankle or foot.
4. Start to kick into the hand, creating a backbend, using your block for support and stability.
Feel free to ask a PLAY instructor to show you how!
Learn More about this Harvest Moon:
-The Full Moon in September (known at this time of year by Native tribes as Harvest or Full Corn Moon) is the second supermoon in a row, according to NASA, as well as a partial lunar eclipse, meaning the moon will likely take on a reddish, or orange-like hue.
–Supermoons can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year, according to NASA. Visually, that might not leave much of an impression, but the proximity of a supermoon can still affect the Earth, causing higher tides than normal.
-What makes a moon “super” is it’s distance (or increased proximity, rather) than it’s appearance. When the moon is both full and its orbit is closest to Earth, roughly 222,000 miles away, we call it a “supermoon.”
-What makes a moon “Harvest” is the time of year. The full moon closest to autumnal equinox often takes the name, “Harvest Moon.” Late summer to early fall is a time for harvesting corn in much of the United States. The full moon around this time often rises around sunset, giving farmers more time to gather their crops, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
