Tree Pose (Vrksasana): Yoga For Your Body & Your Mind

We all strive for balance in our lives, whether it’s striking that perfect work/life balance or trying to maintain balance in our relationships achieving that perfect balance isn’t easy, it takes a lot of time and effort.

Balance in yoga is equally challenging. It sounds easy enough to stand on one leg but how many of us can actually do it without toppling over? Achieving and maintaining balance in yoga requires a huge amount of concentration and coordination.

Tree Pose is a perfect example of this. Tree pose not only helps improve balance and stability but it is also helps strengthen our muscles particularly our leg muscles so it really is a pose for your body and your mind.

Tree Pose

• From Mountain Pose (Tadasana) bend your right knee and place the sole of your right foot high up against the inner left thigh.
• Keeping your left leg straight breathe in and raise arms out by your sides to shoulder level, palms facing up and breathe out.
• Stretch and extend your arms up over your head and place the palms of your hands together. You should feel a nice stretch in your shoulder blades. Hold and breathe normally.

It may help to focus on something to help maintain your balance. If you feel a little wobbly you can let your toes touch the floor and when you’re ready bring your foot back up to the calf or the thigh; or you put your arms out to the side to help stabilize yourself.

However, if you really want to challenge try closing your eyes whilst in the pose. When you close your eyes and can’t focus on an object or a certain spot you have to rely on your mind’s eye and this involves an immense level of concentration.

To come out of this posture safely lower your arms down by your sides and bring your right foot to the floor then repeat on the other side.