Ardha chakrasana or the half-wheel pose might assist to enhance flexibility and hold stress at bay. Try tips on how to do it.
Whether or not you’re in workplace or dwelling, sitting for lengthy can lead to stiffness, again discomfort, and fatigue. Fret not! Together with ardha chakrasana in your health routine might assist to enhance your flexibility and scale back stress. It’s a yoga pose that mixes deep again bends with a rigorous upper-body stretch. The intermediate-level asana resembles a half-wheel, which is why it’s known as the half-wheel pose. Do that widespread yoga asana, because it presents many advantages for each bodily and psychological well-being.
What’s ardha chakrasana?
Ardha chakrasana comes from the Sanskrit phrases ‘Ardha’, which means ‘half’, ‘Chakra’, which means ‘wheel,’ and ‘asana’ which means ‘posture’. “It’s a primary backbend that serves as the start line for a lot of superior asanas. Its clean arc, like a half-wheel, offers a singular mixture of energy, flexibility, and steadiness,” says yoga knowledgeable Himalayan Siddha Akshar. Ardha chakrasana is a core pose in Hatha, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga yoga types. It’s based mostly on historical Indian yoga traditions. This stance is wonderful in the case of spinal flexibility and total physique mindfulness.
Advantages of ardha chakrasana or half wheel pose
Listed here are among the potential advantages of ardha chakrasana:
1. Improves spinal flexibility
Repeatedly following yoga in your health routine might assist to enhance spinal flexibility, as per a examine printed within the Worldwide Journal of Yoga. Ardha chakrasana will increase spinal flexibility by steadily stretching and arching the again. This motion extends the spinal muscle mass and ligaments, giving them extra vary of movement. The pose additionally reduces stiffness and improves joint mobility. Common apply builds the again muscle mass, which assist the backbone and assist to enhance posture. Half-wheel pose additionally promotes flexibility and elongates the backbone, which helps to keep up spinal well being and keep away from stiffness and harm.
2. Strengthens muscle mass
Do you know that the half-wheel pose helps to strengthen muscle teams? Sure, it focuses on the again muscle mass, notably the erector spinae, which assist the backbone and improve posture. “The pose additionally prompts the glutes and hamstrings, leading to stronger legs and a safer base,” explains the knowledgeable. It additionally develops the stomach muscle mass, that are mandatory for core stability and steadiness. The chest and shoulder muscle mass are moreover engaged when the chest is elevated and the arms are stretched. Ardha chakrasana is a wonderful train for common energy and stability because it engages so many muscle mass.
3. Retains stress at bay
A examine printed within the Journal of Training and Well being Promotion discovered that common apply of yoga might assist to cut back stress and anxiousness. Ardha chakrasana relieves stress by combining bodily motion and deep respiration. The backbend pose opens the chest and shoulders, permitting for deeper, extra relaxed respiration. This elevated oxygen consumption relaxes the nervous system and reduces anxiousness. Plus, bodily stretching additionally relieves stress within the muscle mass, particularly within the again and shoulders, that are widespread stress storage locations. Focussing on the pose and the breath redirects your consideration away from anxieties and into the current second, producing a sensation of peace.
4. Helps to drop extra pounds
Are you searching for a simple and efficient pose to shed further kilos? Performing the half-wheel pose might be useful. This pose strengthens your abdomen muscle mass which can assist to spice up metabolism. By growing your metabolism, it might assist to realize your weight reduction targets. Plus, this pose promotes digestion, which permits the physique to devour meals extra effectively. Ardha chakrasana, which reduces stress, may also assist to lower stress-related consuming habits. A examine printed within the journal Preventive Drugs discovered that yoga is a simple and efficient solution to drop extra pounds.
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5. Improves digestion
Ardha chakrasana may help to enhance digestion by a wide range of processes. The backbend stretches the stomach organs, together with the abdomen and intestines, which can enhance their operate and blood circulation, as present in a examine printed within the Journal of Yoga and Bodily Remedy. This enhanced circulation can help within the breakdown and motion of meals by the digestive system. The stance additionally massages these organs, which promotes correct digestion processes.

The best way to do ardha chakrasana or half-wheel pose?
Here’s a step-by-step information on tips on how to do ardha chakrasana or half-wheel pose.
- Start the yoga pose by standing along with your ft hip-width aside, sustaining a straight posture.
- Gently, elevate your arms above your head, along with your palms dealing with one another.
- As you inhale, gently arch your higher again, extending your backbone backward.
- Bend at your waist and proceed to succeed in backward, making a semi-circle form along with your physique.
- Place your arms in your decrease again for assist, fingers pointing downward.
- Preserve the arch in your again and maintain the pose for a couple of breaths.
- Exhale and slowly return to an upright place.
Potential dangers of ardha chakrasana or half-wheel pose
Listed here are some potential dangers of following half-wheel pose.
- In case you undergo from extreme again accidents, continual again ache, it’s best to keep away from practising ardha chakrasana.
- Individuals with neck, spinal, or hip accidents, ought to chorus from performing this pose.
- Be cautious in case you expertise vertigo. The backward bending movement in ardha chakrasana can set off dizziness.
- Pregnant ladies ought to seek the advice of with a healthcare supplier earlier than doing this pose as it could put pointless pressure on the foetus.
Subsequently, it’s essential to seek the advice of a professional yoga teacher or healthcare skilled earlier than beginning a half-wheel pose, particularly when you’ve got any pre-existing well being situations or issues. They’ll present personalised steering and modifications to make sure a protected and efficient expertise.
Associated FAQs
What are some widespread errors to keep away from whereas doing half-wheel pose?
Widespread errors embrace straining the neck, not partaking the core muscle mass, arching the again excessively, and never respiration correctly. Deal with correct alignment and conscious motion to keep away from accidents whereas doing half-wheel pose.
How lengthy ought to I maintain half-wheel pose?
Newcomers can begin by holding the half-wheel pose for 15-30 seconds, steadily growing the period as they grow to be extra snug. Hearken to your physique and do not push your self past your limits.