In Halfway Lift, what should you do with the crown of your head?

• A. Gaze straight down at your mat.
• B. Tuck your chin toward your chest.
• C. Extend the crown of your head forward toward the mirror.
• D. Tilt your head back.

Answer: (C)

In Halfway Lift the goal is to keep the spine long and the neck in a neutral position as you hinge forward. Extending the crown of the head forward toward the mirror helps create a long, stacked line from the tailbone up to the top of the head, so the chest stays open and the back remains elongated rather than rounding. This forward extension prevents the neck from tucking or tilting back—gazing straight down would encourage neck flexion and rounding, tucking the chin shortens the neck, and tilting the head back overextends the neck. Keeping the crown forward aligns the head with the spine and supports proper in-pose length.