Lately I have been practicing a series of poses recommended by Patricia Walden in Dr. Timothy McCall's book, Yoga as Medicine, which includes another of my favorite yoga poses, Ardha Chandrasana or Half Moon Pose. I love to enter Ardha Chandrasana through Utthita Trikonasana , Triangle Pose, another incredible asana. In case you had not guessed from my last Favorite Yoga Pose post, Anantasana, the external/internal hip rotation poses are a lifelong favorite of mine. Experienced Yoga practitioners work on accessing both the internal and the external actions where the thigh bone meets the hip. It may depend on your anatomy where the work is for you.
Some folks have short external hip rotators, so they need to work on lengthening the outer hip muscles with poses like Pidgeon. And some folks are exceptionally open in the inner groin so need to strengthen these muscles. Ardha Chandrasana and Trikonasana are excellent poses to strengthen the inner and outer hip muscles and thighs when practiced correctly.
Ardha Chandrasana requires strength and balance which makes it graceful and beautiful. I consider it a very feminine pose. Almost inevitably as I straighten my standing leg and extend through all limbs, I feel my connection to my inner warrior goddess, the one who has just won the battle and is celebrating the victory. It is an expansive and empowering pose.
Practice Ardha Chandrasana and let me know how it makes you feel. If you are not familar with Ardha Chandrasana, use these practice notes from Yoga Journal.