Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana): How to Do It, Benefits & Cautions
A balancing pose on one hand and one foot, opening the body to the side.
Level: Intermediate · Hold: 25 seconds · Type: Standing, Balance · Target areas: Legs & Hamstrings, Core & Abs · Done on both sides
Benefits ✨
- Improves balance and focus
- Strengthens legs and core
- Opens the hips and chest
Step by step 🧘
1) From triangle, place your front hand on the floor or a block in front of your foot.
2) Inhale and lift your back leg parallel to the floor.
3) Open your hips and chest to the side, reaching your top arm up.
4) Fix your gaze on one point to balance, then switch sides.
Breathing and cautions 🌬️
Inhale to lift the back leg and keep breathing evenly.
- Use a block under your hand if balance is difficult
Helpful props: Block
How Yoga Play recognizes Half Moon Pose 📱
Yoga Play finds your shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles in the camera image, then measures the height and angle of each joint relative to your torso length and compares them with the rules for the pose. When every rule is met, the skeleton turns green and the hold timer starts running.
If you drift out of the pose, hints like these appear on screen:
- Bring your torso level, parallel to the floor
- Lift your top leg up to hip height
- Reach one hand down and the other up
Joint angles read from the sample photo above: knee about 178°, hip about 147°, elbow about 176°. These come from a single photo, so they vary with body proportions and camera angle.
This sample photo passes every recognition rule in the app, so the skeleton is drawn in green.
Related guides 🔗
A good pose to follow with: Mountain Pose
The foundation for all standing poses, aligning the body from soles to crown.
Yoga Play Pose Guide - All 26 Yoga Poses at a Glance
Browse all 26 yoga poses by level, each with the skeleton recognized by the app.
Yoga Play - Auto Pose Tracker
A yoga app that recognizes your pose with the camera in real time and automatically logs how long you hold it. Practice properly at home with 26 poses, 10 flows, and voice guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long should I hold Half Moon Pose?
Yoga Play sets a default target of 25 seconds. The timer runs only while the pose is recognized, and you can adjust hold times in flows.
Is Half Moon Pose suitable for beginners?
Half Moon Pose is an intermediate pose. Warm up with basic poses first, and reduce the range or use props if it feels like too much.
How does Yoga Play check Half Moon Pose?
It finds your key joints in real time with the phone camera and compares them with the rules for the pose. While the rules are met, the skeleton turns green and your hold time is logged. Video is processed only on your device.