To the Moon!

Enjoy the stability of gravity's pull and the freedom of flying in Revolved Half Moon Pose.

By Tias Little

Elongate your spine from the tip of your tailbone to the crown of your head. Then twist around the axis of your spine, allowing it to spiral up like a corkscrew through the whole spine and out the crown of your head. Eventually, you will twist enough that your upper body will be completely open the way it is in Half Moon—it's just flipped to the other side. If you're there, extend your right arm toward the sky. Otherwise, be patient, have faith, and keep turning your spine until you achieve length and breadth in the lungs, collarbones, and breastbone.

Stay here 5 to 10 breaths, aiming your inhalation into your abdominal cavity and into your kidneys. Relax your diaphragm and feel lightness and space around all your organs. Then bend your right arm, bring your right hand back to your hip, and slowly bend your right knee. Avoid collapsing into a heap! Be sure you have enough gusto to exit. To come out, reach your back leg down to the floor and retrace the pathway you took to enter the pose.

Once you've completed this series, do a long Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose) and Standing Forward Bend. These poses restore the nerves around the neck and brain and bring a feeling of integration and congruency to the entire nervous system. Finish with a seated meditation or Savasana (Corpse Pose).

Tias Little's teaching is informed by his extensive study of Iyengar and Ashtanga Yoga, combined with a master's degree in Eastern philosophy and in-depth study of anatomy and bodywork. His wife, Surya (pictured in this story), teaches yoga and directs the YogaSource studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Tias and Surya share the parenting of their two-year-old son, Eno. For Tias's teaching schedule, visit www.tiaslittle.com.

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