‘Ardha’ means Half, ‘padma’ means lotus ‘Hala’ means plough and ‘asana’ means pose. Ardha Padma Halasana is an inversion and gives the benefits of padmasana as well
Organising the Pose:-
1. Sit with the legs outstretched and the feet together.
2. Bend the left leg and place the foot on top of the right thigh in the half lotus position. Place the arms arms close to the body with the palms facing down.
3. Press down with the arms and roll backward, moving the straight leg over the head till the toes reach the floor.
4. Bring the arms over the head and hold the toes of the right foot with both the hands. The right leg remains straight.
5. Support the lower back with both the palms and lift the extended leg up, dropping the body down slowly and releasing the right leg on the floor,
6. Switch the legs and repeat on the other side. Practice a few rounds on both the sides.
DOs:
-Do keep the body completely stretched before moving into the pose.
DONT’S:
-Don’t practice this pose if you have hernia, sciatica or other back or neck ailments.
-People with high blood pressure, heart ailments and knee problems should avoid this pose.
BENEFITS:
-This pose strengthens the back and abdominal muscles, activates the intestinal peristalisis, improving digestion and removing constipation.
-It facilitates the breakdown of fats by activating the liver and gall bladder and stretches the pelvic region.
Namaste!
Neelanjana Bharadwaj– Yoga Expert