By Mary Cruickshank
Some days a yoga practice is more focused, balanced, and centered. You stand stronger and remain more grounded throughout the sequences. Other days can be less steady and more wobbly, constantly struggling to find your balance with each yoga position. The tree pose happens to be one of those positions that can give a clear indication if you are going to have a strong practice or a wobbly one. It can appear as one of the simplest yoga positions but can be extremely challenging. Fortunately there are techniques and strategies to help stabilize your body through this position.
When starting to do the tree pose find a vertical line about six feet away from you that you can fix your eyes on. Balance yourself firmly on one leg. Bend the knee of the other leg and place the foot on the inside of the opposite thigh. Bring your hands together in front of your chest to assist with your beginning balance. Once you feel steady on your one leg, then lift the two hands to above your head and straighten your arms as if trying to touch the ceiling all while focusing your eyes on your vertical line. Stand firmly without wobbling or swaying for as long as possible, breath deeply and slowly. Release your arms back to your side and bring the foot back to the floor. Repeat with the other leg.
Subtle strategies that will increase your steadfastness during the tree pose:
Use a stripe on the wall, a doorway molding, a pole, any straight vertical line as your focal point instead of a spot. When moving the hands from in front of the body to above the head your line of vision can shift ever so slightly so with a linear focus your eyes can adjust without having to shift your balance.
Adjust the lifted foot between your high inner thigh and the inside knee. You can increase your steadiness by making a slight adjustment to the placement of your foot. Moving it just a little can stop the wobbles.
Breathe in deeply while raising the two hands towards the ceiling. Elongate the spine and lift your head away from your shoulders focusing on your vertical line.
If attempting the tree pose and find that you just can’t seem to find your balance, then simply straighten your bent knee so you again have two feet on the floor. Always opt for caution and safety. You can then either try again or not. Sometimes the second time can prove to be a very balanced tree pose.
Practicing the tree pose consistently will restore balance and equilibrium to the body by coordinating the mind with the body. It also increases hip flexibility and makes the pelvis more limber. One of the biggest benefits is the gain in personal confidence each time you successfully achieve the balance and stability of this empowering yoga position. There can be shakiness for beginners until your ankle stabilizer muscles become stronger and you find balance in your body. Fortunately with practice and perseverance the steadiness will happen more and more.
Whenever I practice the tree pose I concentrate on only one of the muscles or body areas involved in this position. By putting my attention on either the ankle stabilizer muscles, lower back, hips, pelvis, core, neck, or shoulders, the rest of the body relaxes and eases into the position with more lightness and flexibility and therefore more success.
Practice yoga to improve balance, get more energy, relieve tension and increase strength. If you are serious about improving your health and appearance then the next move is up to you.
Mary Cruickshank has been practicing yoga for over ten years. Visit http://www.MyReadingChair.com/Learn_Yoga_Review.html to learn the three biggest myths about getting into shape.
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By Konstantin Tsiryulnikov