Half Moon and Fish Yoga Pose

Half Moon and Fish Yoga Pose help relieve tension in the neck and shoulders and provide relief from respiratory disorders by encouraging deep breathing.

Half Moon Pose or Backward Bend 

Steps

• Stand straight with feet together and arms alongside the body.
• Balance your weight equally on both feet
• Breathing in, extend your arms overhead, palms facing each other.
• Breathing out, gently bend backward pushing the pelvis forward, keeping the arms in line with the ears, elbows, and knees straight, head up, and lifting your chest towards the ceiling.
• Hold. Breathing in, come back up.
• Breathing out, bring the arms down and relax.

Benefits of the Half Moon Pose or Backward Bend 

• Stretches the front upper torso.
• Tones the arms and shoulder muscles.

Fish Pose – Matsyasana

The fish pose, if carried out in the water, allows the body to float quite easily like that of a fish; hence the name.

Steps

• Lie on your back. Your feet are together and hands relaxed alongside the body.
• Place the hands underneath the hips, palms facing down. Bring the elbows closer toward each other.
• Breathing in, lift the head and chest up.
• Keeping the chest elevated, lower the head backward, and touch the top of the head to the floor.
• With the head lightly touching the floor, press the elbows firmly into the ground, placing the weight on the elbow and not on the head. Lift your chest up from in-between the shoulder blades. Press the thighs and legs to the floor.
• Hold the pose for as long as you comfortably can, taking gentle long breaths in and out. Relax in the posture with every exhalation.
• Now lift the head up, lowering the chest and head to the floor. Bring the hands back along the sides of the body. Relax.

Benefits of the Fish Pose

• Stretches the chest and neck
• Helps relieve tension in the neck and shoulders
• Provides relief from respiratory disorders by encouraging deep breathing
• Tones the parathyroid, pituitary and pineal glands

Half Moon and Fish Yoga Pose help relieve tension in the neck and shoulders and provide relief from respiratory disorders by encouraging deep breathing.