Pose of the day: Vrksasana!
Tree (vrksasana in sanskirt, pronounced vrick-shasana) is a wonderful standing balance pose. There are many variations for the legs and arms, making this pose super accessible to every yogi!
Start in tadasana (mountain pose). Start by lifting the toes, fanning them apart and then pressing each one into the mat to establish pada bandha (foot lock). This doesn't mean we grip the mat with our toes, it just means we're giving ourselves a good strong foundation for the pose. From here, shift the weight into the left leg, and place the right foot on the inside of the left ankle, calf or thigh. If you're feeling unstable, you can practice the pose by a wall for extra support, as well as keep the right toes on the mat!
Think of the arms as your branches, and have fun with it! Palms can be at anjali mudra (heart center), arms can be overhead (although if you struggle with high blood pressure, you may want to avoid this one), hands can be behind the back (either interlaced or in reverse prayer, great chest openers!), or you can get really funky and try garudasana (eagle) arms or gomukhasana (cow's face) arms. The possibilities are endless!
One thing to remember in this pose is that the knee is not a resting place for the opposite foot. The foot should either be above or below the knee.
Thought for the day:
Do not fight your body. Do not carry the world on your shoulders like Atlas. Drop that heavy load of unnecessary baggage and you will feel better. Do not kill the instinct of the body for the glory of the pose. Do not look at your body like a stranger, but adopt a friendly approach toward it. Watch it, listen to it, observe its needs, its requests, and even have fun. Play with it as children do, sometimes it becomes very alert and swift. To be sensitive is to be alive.
-Swami Karmananda Saraswati
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