THE POSE: Tree pose, or Vrksasana in Sanskrit, is a grounding posture that brings much-needed balance to our all-too-hectic lives. Why can’t we stop all this running around, all this striving? Let’s take a note from the trees, who seem to have things figured out much better than we do.

ACCESS THE POSTURE:

Start in Mountain Pose (Tadasana), pressing both of your feet evenly into the ground.
Holding your palms facing slightly forward, inhale your shoulders up to your ears and exhale them down your back. Repeat this twice, with your gaze resting 3 feet in front of you. Try looking at a something that isn’t moving.
Take an inhale. On your exhale, bring hands to heart-center. Focus on grounding down through your right foot, with your toes free and unclenched.
Lift your left foot, bringing the sole to your inner-right ankle, calf, or thigh. Never place your foot on the opposite knee, which is not meant to receive pressure that pushes it left or right. Find your center through focusing on your breath and keeping your dristi (gaze) on the same unmoving spot. Soften your eyes and your jaw.
With your next exhale, let your shoulders drop down and together. Let your lower ribs draw in. Think lower ribs drawing down towards your pelvis.
At the same time, lift your heart towards the heavens, illuminating your whole being.
Gently tuck your chin in slightly towards your heart. Use your breath to find your center. Keep your core engaged, drawing your navel in, towards your spine and up towards your heart. Think “In and Up.”
Stay here, or lift your arms up over head. Keep your arms straight, with your hands together in pray position, or hold your hands apart, like you have a giant beach ball over head. Find some creative movement with your arms. Let them dance around your head like tree branches blowing gently in the wind.
Hold for 30 seconds, and repeat on other foot.

ALIGNMENT CUES:

Keep…

…Your face soft

…Your breath even

…Your shoulders drawing down your back

…Your lower ribs drawing down, together

…Your navel drawing in and up towards your spine

…Your chin tucking slightly toward your heart

…Your toes soft, not clenching the floor

…YOUR HEART LIFTED!!!!!

…Your standing leg’s thigh engaged

…Your hips even

…The crown of your head pointing toward the heavens

…Pressing evenly into your standing foot

…A micro-bend in your standing knee, as always, to avoid locking your knee

THE BENEFITS: Tree pose, though it may seem simple, has more benefits than I can fit in a blog post. It helps with proprioception (knowing where your body is in space). It’s a hip opener for your non-standing leg. Also, when you hold your arms over your head, it’s a gentle heart opener—which just might be the nicest phrase in the English language. Tree pose is energizing, it boosts self-confidence, it’s balancing, and it builds focus. It strengthens your ankles and knees (which really helps if you’re like me and you’re always rolling your ankles). Overall, Tree pose creates a sense of grounding. That’s something we all need in this world that won’t stop spinning.

Just get into Tree Pose and enjoy the ride!

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Yoga On!

-Laura <3

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