Yoga Teachers: Useful Adjustment for Trikonasana and Ardha Chandrasana

I am an adjuster and assister as a teacher and love it as a student.  I love having outside assistance periodically to get out of my silly head. (Read more about the pros and cons here.) Here’s a quick adjustment for Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) and Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose) (both regular and revolved) you can use in classes.

For my students who tend toward Sky Energy (lifted), they found it grounding.  For my students who tend toward Earth Energy (grounded), they found it easier to elongate.

The photo is probably explanatory, but let me add a few tips:  

• Let the student get into her pose first and feel her deepest expression without assistance.
• Then have the partner put her hand right up to the student’s hand, letting the student move to the partner’s hand.
• Have the partner be a very firm “wall” for the student so the student can really push against her.
• Once the student has the feel, the grounding or lengthening, she needs, have the partner slowly move away.
• Voila!  A brand new pose!

I use this adjustment for straight Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) and Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose) as well as the revolved versions.  I have used it for beginner student to advanced and everyone loves it.  Enjoy!