Bound Ardha Chandrasana

This is one of my all-time favorite yoga asanas.  It takes strength, open hips and balance.  What a work out.

Here's a few tips on Bound Half Moon.  

Be warmed up and have a few hip openers under your belt before you take on this bad boy.  Have a strap and a block handy if you are new to it, and maybe even be close to a wall or coutnertop for support.   As you lower the upper body towards the floor raise the right leg.  

In particular, have the left hand ready to support you and go for the block on the ground.  Having the hand positioned about two hand sizes in front of that left foot and over to the left about one hand's size.  
Breath and focus.  
Have those toes spread and have a good strong connection to the earth.    
Right had should be on hip.  Now go into half moon fully by raising right had and extending fully the right leg.  
Gather you business and bend that right leg.  Bring the foot towards the butt.  Reach for it with the right hand (use strap here).

I think this is a beautiful picture, but I prefer the hand to be on the "inside" of the foot, so try it with the hand on the INSIDE.  I like the angle of the camera as it shows her hand placement rather well.  (hand may actually be a little too wide.)  Many people try to line up hand and foot.  Try it this way with hand over to the left a little.  It's more stable and comfortable.

A fun little sequence to play with is:

Natarajansa
Go down into Bound half moon.  (block?)
Open it up into regular half moon.
Oh lordy...bind it again
Still bound, come back up into your Natarajasana.
​May close this with Eagle pose

Enjoy mis amigos.