Tree Pose

Vrksasana (tree pose) is a great balancing, grounding pose with many variations. It helps strengthen your legs, improves your balance and focus. It can help calm the mind and help you gain energy as you feel the strength from the earth below and the sky above.

Now we Practice:

• Start in Tadasana (mountain pose)

• Shift your weight onto the right foot

• Start to lift your left heel off the ground

• Place the sole of your left foot on you ankle, toes can still be on the earth

• Stay here or slide that foot up to rest on your calf

• Enjoy this variation or continue sliding the foot up to your inner thigh (you may need to assist with your hands)

• Focus on pushing your standing leg into your foot as you push the foot into the leg

• Send the right knee back, opening up your hips

• Avoid pressing the foot into the knee joint if you are just starting out

Now that you have chosen your leg position, let's work on the arms.

• Start with your hands on your hips

• Stretch your arms down by your side

• Bring them up into a prayer pose

• Try lifting your prayer up to the sky, reaching your arms up and out, growing your branches

• Sway your arms, like limbs blowing in the breeze

• Lower the arms as you lower the foot to the ground, resting back in Tadasana

• Repeat other side