Dancer and Half Moon Balance Poses
Here are two challenging standing balance poses to develop your powers of concentration – Dancer, King of the Dance or Lord of the Dance Pose (Natarajasana) and Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana). Variations of the whimsical and beautiful Lord of the Dance Pose test your balance, while building strength in the legs and ankles, and stretching the muscles of the shoulders, chest, thighs, groins, and abdomen. Half Moon Pose really helps to focus your attention and improve coordination. Maintaining stability in this pose builds strength and flexibility in the muscles of the abdomen, ankles, thighs, buttocks, and spine. Consciously doing this balance helps alleviate stress by keeping your mind fully in the present moment.
Jenny in an easier variation of Lord of the Dance Pose (Natarajasana) at Jade Pass in Mount Revelstoke National Park, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter).
Jenny in Lord of the Dance Pose (Natarajasana) along the Iceline Trail in Yoho National Park, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter).
Kayla Bowers executes Dancer’s Pose (Natarajasana) with grace and dignity at Schooner’s Cove Beach, Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island, B.C. (Photo by Jenny Feick).
The full expression of Dancer Pose involves rising upwards and straightening the torso, as Kayla Bowers illustrates so beautifully at Schooner’s Cove Beach, Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island, B.C. Another even more challenging version involves using both hands to reach back to hold the extended foot (Photo by Jenny Feick).
Jenny in Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) atop Whistler Mountain in Jasper National Park, Alberta. Then begin to lift the gaze, take the arm up, and press back with the lifted leg and foot (Photo by Ian Hatter).
Jenny in the first variation of Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) along the shore of Cowichan Lake, Gordon Bay Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, B.C. Begin this pose with the gaze towards the ground until you feel stable. (Photo by Ian Hatter).
Jenny in Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) at Botanical Beach, Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, B.C. Eventually the gaze, upper arm and chest face up, with the neck and crown of the head in line with the torso and lifted leg. The stability comes from the pressing back of the lifted leg and sole of the foot (Photo by Ian Hatter).
