STEPS

Sugarcane Pose is a powerful heart –and hip opener that combines a variation of half-moon pose with a backbend. This pose is an intermediate vinyasa posture building core stability and precision of movement. It’s a great pose for playing your edge – that is practicing outside your comfort zone – as you will let go of old habits re-adjusting your sense of balance and perspective.

Begin in mountain pose with the feet parallel and hip distance apart. Fold forward from the hips, placing the tips of your right hand 6-8 inches in front of your right foot. Bring the left hand to left hip, turning the chest outward, so the right shoulder over the right wrist. Root down with the four corners of the right foot and raise the left leg parallel to the floor. Open the hips stacking left hip over right. Extend the left arm and gaze upward, stretching out from head crown to left toe. Slowly bend the left leg coming into half-moon pose. Reach back with the left hand and grab the left foot. Pull the left foot towards the hip. At the same time draw the shoulder blades back and down. Continue to revolve the chest upward and breathe deeply into the chest cavity for a count of five. To exit the pose, bring eye gaze to the floor. Release the foot and bring both hands to the floor. Lower the left leg and foot to the ground, returning to a forward bend, the lift up to Mountain Pose. Repeat the other side.