Ardha Chandra Chāpāsana (a.k.a. “Sugarcane”)
Ardha = Half · Chandra = Moon · Chāpa = Bow · Asana = Pose
Why do we call it sugarcane?
According to an article I found in Yoga Journal, Douglas Brooks, PhD, a scholar of Hinduism and the comparative study of religions, named this pose Ardha Chandra Chapasana many years ago. The Hindu Goddess Lalita has 4 arms and each holds a weapon. One of her weapons is a bow made of Sugarcane.
Lalita’s weapons are:
Rope = Attachment
Elephant Goad = aversion
Sugarcane Bow = The Mind
5 Flower Arrows = The 5 Senses
Lalita uses the mind to control the senses and has mastery over attraction and aversion. Lalita is eternal grace, knowledge and determination. She spreads the light of pleasure, sympathy and awareness to her devotees.
Benefits
Opens your hamstrings, adductors, hip flexors, quads and chest. Works your hips, legs and core. Excellent balance challenge!
Cautions
I use a block to make sure I don’t compress my hip joint. It is totally legal to bend the standing leg to avoid hyperextending the standing knee and take some of the edge off the leg stretch. You can also use a wall for balance support! 😁
Sources/Read more about Lalita:
Yoga Journal: Challenge Pose: Ardha Chandra Capasana