“The mighty oak was once a little nut that stood it’s ground” – Anon
Watch our VIDEO of how to practice on Youtube
Tree pose (Vrksasana) is a brilliant asana to include in your daily practice. Tree pose requires balance and focus, and can help us to develop in our balance practice. Just like in Tadasana, we want to feel firmly rooted to the earth, we have the ability to sway with the wind but we stay tall and strong on the ground below. It can become almost a metaphor for balance in daily life, we’re rooted and strong, and can bend to the wind without losing our grounding.
If you have high blood pressure don’t raise your arms overhead in Tree pose.
Preparatory Poses
Tadasana – Mountain Pose (above)
Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward Facing Dog (above)
Virabhadrasana 2 – Warrior Two (above)
Trikonasana – Triangle Pose (above)
Step by Step Guide
Step One
Stand in Tadasana. Find your breath and then find your feet. Make sure your feet are facing directly forwards. Start to fire up the muscles in your legs, especially your thighs. Let your weight sink into your right foot.
Step Two
With your weight in your right foot, lift the left leg. Depending on how much rotation your hips will allow, bring the sole of your left foot to either the top of your right foot, the inside of the right calf, or inside the right thigh. It is important not to rest your foot on the inside of your knee joint.
Step Three
Breathe for up to 6 rounds of breath here. You can choose to raise your arms with your ears if you’re feeling balanced. Engage the inside of your right leg in to the sole of your left foot and then engage your left foot back towards your right leg. This helps the legs to become more active in the posture. From this we can feel the lift at the base of the pelvis and the base of the belly, creating length all the way up the spine.
Step Four
To come out of this, on an exhale land your left foot back next to your right. Practice this on the opposite side.
Time to enjoy practicing your Tree. Join us in class to get help and any questions answered!
