In Sanskrit, Ardha means half, Chakra means wheel and asana means a pose.

How to do Ardha Chakrasana?

• Stand straight with feet together and arms along the side of your body
• Balance your body weight equally on both feet
• Breathing in, extend your arms overhead, palms facing each other
• Breathing out, gently bend upper part of your body backwards as far as you can, along with the arms in line with the ears, elbows and knee straight, head up
• Hold. Breathing in, come back slowly to the standing position
• Breathing out, bring the arms down and relax

Benefits of Ardha Chakrasana

• Strengthens the back and abdominal muscles
• Tones organs in the abdomen including digestive, excretory and reproductive organs
• Tones the arms and shoulder muscles
• Gives good shape to the body and corrects postural defects

Contraindication of Ardha Chakrasana

• Those with serious neck, hip or spinal problems/ injuries should avoid this asana.
• Those suffering from high blood pressure and brain ailments should avoid this pose.
• Be cautious while doing this pose if you have vertigo.
• Peptic or duodenal ulcer and hernia patients should avoid this pose.
• Pregnant women should avoid this pose