Yoga Pose of the Week: Indudalasana

Richard Spera in Indudalasana, by Zoe Zimmerman for Sundara Studios 2014

Richard Spera in Indudalasana, by Zoe Zimmerman for Sundara Studios 2014

Gazing at a sliver of a moon can inspire and stir deep wonder. There is something to the beauty of slight quantities of light shining through expansive scapes of darkness.  Perhaps it’s just as simple as the acknowledgment that there is always light shining through. Like the expansiveness of dark that makes up the blanket of the universe through which stars twinkle and shine, each of our bodies have an expanse of space that is hard to get to and open up to let breath into and ease shine through.

Indudalasana, standing crescent pose, is a wonderful posture to shine light into the space of the intercostal muscles between the ribs, while improving core strength. This posture also increases balance and concentration as well as improving circulation. Much like the wonder stirred by a sliver of a moon, standing crescent pose also energizes the entire body.

Begin standing in Tadasana (mountain pose) with a strong draw of the legs to the midline. Inhale to sweep both arms overhead, with the intention of bringing the hands to prayer while extending long through both elbows.

Maintain your connection to the midline as you exhale and extend your torso up and over to the right like a crescent moon. Root heavily into your right foot as you shift your hips to the right. It helps to imagine yourself between two planes of glass that you cannot touch; this will keep you from swaying back or forward in your spine. Hold for five to ten breaths, and follow an exhale to release your arms.

As you are ready, repeat on the second side. When you have finished both sides, observe the deeper quality of your breath, and with that a deepened sense of trust.