Two poses for today are: Half Lord of the Fishes and Half Moon Yoga poses

Half Lord of the Fishes and Half Moon Yoga poses

Half Lord of the Fishes Pose – Ardha Matsyendrasana

Half Lord of the Fishes pose energizes the spine and stimulates the digestive fire.

Steps

• Sit up with the legs stretched out straight in front of you, keeping the feet together and the spine erect.
• Bend the left leg and place the heel of the left foot beside the right hip (optionally, you can keep the left leg straight).
• Take the right leg over the left knee.
• Place the left hand on the right knee and the right hand behind you.
• Twist the waist, shoulders, and neck in this sequence to the right and look over the right shoulder.
• Keep the spine erect.
• Hold and continue with gentle long breaths in and out.
• Breathing out, release the right hand first (the hand behind you), release the waist, then chest, lastly the neck, and sit up relaxed yet straight.
• Repeat to the other side.
• Breathing out, come back to the front, and relax.

Benefits

• Makes spine supple.
• Increases the elasticity of the spine.
• It opens the chest and increases the oxygen supply to the lungs.

Half Moon Pose or Backward Bend 

Half Moon Pose strengthens the thighs, ankles, abdomen, and buttocks. It opens the chest, shoulders, and torso while lengthening the spine.

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.

Half Lord of the Fishes and Half Moon Yoga poses- strengthen the thighs, ankles, abdomen, and buttocks.