Sequences are epithets in the larger story of a yoga class. For me, the story of this sequence is in the outer hip/thigh on the front leg. High Crescent Lunge asks for a lot of muscular stability, and the twist adds a nice challenge to its balance.
As the pose transitions to Standing Splits, the student squeezes the outer glutes on both legs to stack the top hip for Half Moon and slowly transition to Warrior Two. What I am cueing here is often based in evolution, like the title, Evolve to Half Moon. I think it alludes to the slow-moving transitions that make this sequence fun to practice.
I think this work is a perfect pair for a crowd-pleasing pass through Pigeon pose. Strength-building work is so important before we even think of a lengthening shape. Though a pose like Pigeon can lead to instant tension relief, it’s toning work that is the long-term hero.
Sequence: Evolve to Half Moon