As a yogi, I may not be the most flexible person in the universe, but I do love the balancing poses, whether they be hand balances or balancing on one leg. And so one of my favorite poses of all time is Tree Pose or Vrksasana (vrik-SHASH-anna) It's deceptively challenging but a beautiful pose if you can hold it even for a few seconds.
This pose aides in focus and balance (literally and figuratively). It's a nice grounding pose, so if you are having a stressful or chaotic day and need to take the time to get grounded, to harness leaking energy and bring it back into your heart center, Tree pose is an excellent way to do this. As with many yoga poses, it's a balance of opposites. You ground down through your feet into the earth as you stretch up towards the sky. (This is me in Vrksasana)
Benefits of Vrksasana:
- Strengthens thighs, calves, ankles and spine
- Stretches the groins and inner thighs, chest and shoulders
- Improves sense of balance
- Relieves sciatica and reduces flat feet
Contraindications or Cautions:
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Low blood pressure
- High blood pressure (Don't raise arms overhead)
With all the beautiful blooming trees around, I hope that you will incorporate this pose into your practice. When you focus on your breath and still your mind in this pose, it's bound to bring more stability and groundedness in an otherwise fast-paced world.
The attached link will help you get into the pose.
Blessings,
Susan
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