PRANA – THE DAILY YOGA #7 Practicing Yoga brings you back into your body, connects you to the earth, and helps you experience safety and stillness. Though praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow may come and go like the wind, as the Buddha said, happiness comes if you can rest like a great tree in the midst of them all. Practicing the Tree Pose is about reconnecting. For many beginners, balancing poses are extremely challenging. Sometimes it is hard enough to do an asana (posture) with two feet on the ground, let alone avoid toppling over while standing on one foot. The key to successful balancing lies in cultivating awareness of your body. TREE POSE (VRIKSHASANA) 1. Stand with your feet hip-distance apart and parallel, arms relaxing down by your sides, eyes closed. 2. Then take another breath and focus on a single point in front of you 3. Lift your left foot up to the top of the inner right thigh. The left toes should point down. If you’re having trouble and wishing for Velcro on your foot, practice with a strap around the left ankle, holding it in place with your left hand. Its also fine to practice with the left foot lower on the standing leg, at calf-height. 4. Accentuate the pressure of the outer left foot on the inner right thigh so that the left knee comes more into the same plane as the left hip. This alignment will improve as your hips and groins open. Bring your palms together in front of your heart and press them together. 5. If you wish to go further with the pose, raise your arms overhead, palms facing each other. Relax your shoulders and tailbone down as you lengthen your spine upward. Breathe smoothly. 6. If you find that looking straightforward is too challenging, pick a spot in front of you on the floor (about one body-length away from you) to gaze at softly. Relax your face, and from your awareness of your center, allow your attention and energy to radiate 360 degrees. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds, about three to eight breaths. With practice, you might work up to a minute on each side. *This pose can be done with wall support also for beginners, as its a balancing pose. HEALTH BENEFITS •Improved balance •Reduced sciatica, a pain felt in the buttocks and back of the legs •Elongated stretch for the ankles, thighs, hips, inner groins, spine, shoulders, and chest •Toned calf and thigh muscles *Message my inbox in case you require any clarification. Suggestions are welcome. -- Priya
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 05:42:12 +0000