How to Do the Standing Crescent Moon Pose

The Crescent Moon Pose is a basic move that can help you stretch and relax almost anywhere.

Step 1: Mountain Pose Stand at the front of your mat with your feet hip-width apart and your weight evenly distributed between them, your spine erect, and your arms at your sides.
Step 2: Raise arms Inhale, raising your arms out to your sides and up and over your head, pressing your palms together.
Step 3: Shift hips & arch torso Shift your hips to left while arching your torso and arms to the right. Your body should make crescent shape from hands to feet.
Step 4: Hold pose Hold the pose for several comfortable breaths.
Step 5: Release pose Release by straightening your spine and returning to an erect position, arms still overhead.
Step 6: Repeat pose Repeat the bend on the other side, holding the same number of breaths.
Step 7: Release pose Release by straightening your spine, returning to an erect position, and lowering your arms.
FACT: Half the moon is always in sunlight—the phase of the moon depends on how much of the sunlit half is visible from earth at any one time.