The Low Crescent Lunge, also known as Anjaneyasana in Sanskrit, is a yoga pose that embodies a graceful balance between strength and surrender. The practitioner sinks into a deep lunge, with one knee bent and the other extended behind. This creates a long line from the back heel to the crown of the head. Arms can be either extended overhead or placed on the front thigh for additional support. This pose is great for strengthening and stretching the lower body muscles, especially the hamstrings.
How do you do Low Crescent Lunge?
Step 1.
Start in downdog. Step your right foot forward in between your thumbs. You can use your hands to help guide your foot forward.
Step 2.
Drop your back knee down to the mat, bending the front knee at a 90-degree angle.
Step 3.
Extending your spine long, sweep your arms overhead and lift your chest and torso as you lengthen the tailbone down, stretching your hip flexors.
Step 4.
Ground firmly into the feet, isometrically dragging the front heel and back knee towards each other. Activate the inner thighs to keep yourself stable.
Step 5.
As you reach up, feel the rib cage lifting away from your hips to create space on the sides of your waist. Allow your shoulders to soften down and away from your ears.
Repeat on the left side.
Benefits of Low Crescent Lunge
Stretches the hip flexors and muscles of the hips
Stretches and strengthens the quadriceps
Opens the chest
Lengthen the side body
Variations of Low Crescent Lunge
Blanket or padding under the back knee if you have sensitive joints
Keep a right angle in the legs focusing on length in the spine and active engagement of leg muscles as opposed to a passively held deep backbend
Add arm variations to broaden collarbones (cactus arms), create space in the back of the shoulders (eagle arms), fold forward, or add twists.
Other Yoga Poses to Try
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Downward Facing Dog
The Downward Facing Dog yoga pose, known as Adho Mukha Svanasana in Sanskrit, is considered one of the most fundamental yoga poses. This pose can be used throughout the practice, whether in a Sun Salutation sequence or as a transition
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4-Limbed Staff Pose
Chaturanga Dandasana, or Four-Limbed Staff Pose, is a 2,000-year-old foundational yoga posture in which the body is held parallel to the ground, supported by hands and feet with elbows bent at right angles.
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Forward Fold
Forward Fold, also known as Uttanasana in Sanskrit, is a fundamental posture for the practice. With feet hip-width apart and the upper body surrendering to the ground, this yoga pose offers a deep stretch and release in the hamstrings, calves,