Tree Pose: Vriksasana The tree is a symbol of rootedness and reach, of sturdiness and balance. Trees find nourishment underground, feeding off the earth; they also reach toward the sky, capturing the sunrays. From the smallest seed, the tree shows us how life moves toward growth. The Tree Pose, Vrksasana, is a powerful asana. By extending from your core (or, appropriately enough, your trunk), and reaching arms toward the sky, you balance on one leg. You will wobble and sway just as trees do in the wind. Allow your eyes to remain fixed on an object in the room to help ground you. Feel the connection to the earth and the sky above, growing upwards and out of your trunk. You will feel the sides of your body become elongated, just as the tree reaches toward the sun for nourishment. Allow yourself to feel nourished, strong, and stable in this pose. As you practice, feel your body becoming still in the pose as you grow out and up while being rooted in the earth. Vrksasana uses the muscles of the erector spinae, abdominus rectus, obliques, Illiopsoas, hamstrings, gluteus, hip rotators, and the deltoid muscles. It is useful for strengthening the [...]
