Half Lord of the Fishes Pose or Ardh Matsyendrasana

Half Lord of the Fishes Pose is also known as Ardh Matsyendrasana in the Sanskrit language. Ardha means half, Matsyendra, which means king of the fish, Indra is the ruler, a legendary teacher of yoga. Half Lord of the Fishes Pose is a sitting pose which has numerous benefits to practice. This asana has its own importance because it is started with sitting pose known as Gomukhasana.

Steps of doing Half Lord of the Fishes Pose or Ardh Matsyendrasana

• Start with sitting in Gomukhasana that is cow face pose or posture, legs, right knee on top.
• Root down with your sitting bones to rebound up the length of your spine.
• Imagine that central axis running through your torso from your pelvic floor to the crown of your head.
• With each inhalation, emphasis both the length and integrity of this axis.
• The column must be straight and is not tilting or curving off to one side or another.
• By keeping your left leg in the current position where it is, place your right foot to the outside of your left knee.
• Root down with your right big toe mound while simultaneously descending your right outer hip.
• Inhale and take your left arm to the ceiling.
• Exhale and then hook your left elbow to the outside of your right knee.
• Take your right to the floor and outside of your right hip.
• Notice how your right knee tends to buckle into your midline; instead of that press it to the right to create more resistance for the left elbow to work against.
• Inhale by finding more length along the central axis; exhale and use the length to revolve deeper and deeper.
• Stay in the pose for 30 seconds to one minute.
• Repeat with the same steps on the other side.
• Stay there also for 30 seconds to one minute.

Benefits of doing Half Lord of the Fishes Pose or Ardh Matsyendrasana

• It helps in improving the postural and body awareness.
• Half Lord of the Fishes Pose improves the posture and counteracts the effects of sitting and computer work.
• It can help in stimulating proper digestion by facilitating movement through the digestive tract that is peristalsis.
• It can help in relieving from constipation through the benefits of movement and stimulation of the lower abdomen.
• Can also help in relieving bloating and gas.
• It helps in strengthening your core and muscles that support the spine.
• Stretches around your back, outer thighs that are abductors, buttocks that is gluteals,  and front of your thighs that are quadriceps.