Yoga has been a part and parcel of our life for a long time now. In the gone by days, yoga would be a form of ailment, healing many people with its natural aura and even today it persists more stronger than ever. With time new poses and exercises were formulated by the professionals as they found out how beautifully cures could be achieved through a simple game of stretching. Amongst them, the Tree Pose or rather Vriksasana is the topic of our article.
The word ‘Vriksha’ in Sanskrit when translated to English would mean tree and thus the Vrikshasana asana is a type of yoga also commonly known as the tree pose. As guessed the reason why it acquired its name in such context belongs to the fact that the entire yoga structure depends and surrounds around the person resembling or imitating a standing tree. How does it vary from most of the yoga you ask? Here in this yoga you have to keep your peepers open unlike the most so that you can have a full control on your body weight.
Beginner’s Tips For Vriksasana:
Vriksasana might be slightly difficult to perform for beginners. However, the following tips can help you overcome these barriers and make you perfect in the asana. Check out the below points to keep in mind to try tree pose for beginners:
- Placing your right leg on your right leg can difficult to achieve in the beginning.
- Try holding wall or chair for support before you can balance on one leg on your own.
- Keep your focus on the object in front of you and concentrate well to achieve balance.
- Don’t put your leg on the knee of the other leg, as it cause knee pain due to immense pressure.
How To Perform Vrikshasana:
Follow the procedure to know how to do tree pose:
- To start off with the yoga, use a base, a mat or clothing and stand on top of it.
- In the initial stage keep your arms relaxed free falling by your side as you stand erect with your spine in attention.
- See straight and find yourself a target, something that you soon will be staring at for the next one minute or so.
- Keeping the left leg still straight and tight, you may now raise the right one and fold it from the knees so that you can position your feet on the left inner thigh, high above. Adjust your stance.
- In the initial position you might require some help so feel free to take some with your open hands.
- Once you have perfected the stance do not use your external help anymore. Slowly raise your hand, both of them, above your head, straight and join them.
- This way a stretch is formed as you start inhaling and exhaling air relaxing your body with every breath.
- Keep your gaze fixed on the prior mentioned target all this while so that you can easily balance yourself.
With the last breathing slowly bring down your arms and then your right limb. Return to fetal position and then start with the other leg this time, same method.
See More: Virasana Benefits
Vriksasana Benefits:
Vrishasana is wonderful asana to achieve body and mind balance. The following are some of the best tree pose yoga benefits:
1. Improves concentration:
Whenever there is body balancing and gaze involved you know a little more than 1% of your careless brain is required and that is why what there is a lot of concentration required at such a time. While you balance yourself you intently gaze at a target while your mind controls your body. This is why this yoga would definitely improve your concentration skills.
2. Pain reliever:
You want to know why the stretching and the putting up of the arms is all about. Well there is often in a daily basis a tension that we go through in our body. this physical tension causes the muscles to knot and cause blood clot and pain therefore. This is why on a normal day we feel good after a good stretch. Once we maintain the stretch and channel our inner system, you would notice those bad backs and hip joints working perfectly.
See More: Viparita Karani Asana
3. Neuromuscular coordination:
There are nerves running down our body which forms the idea bank and the muscles simply the workers abiding the electric impulses of our body. While the brain works on maintain the body balance, the muscles and the nerves start to coordinate with each other to prevent you from being a victim of gravity.
4. Flexibility:
Apart from the other serious matters you can feel this exercise working towards a flexible self.
Precautionary Measures and Contraindications:
Before performing this asana, one needs to keep in mind, the following precautions and side effects:
- This pose involves rising the hands for longer periods, which is not advisable for those with higher blood pressure.
- People suffering from insomnia and migraine must avoid this pose, as it can aggravate the condition.
- Always perform this asana on empty stomach.
- One should maintain at least 4 hours gap between your meals and the asana
- The best time to perform this asana is in the morning
Vriskshasana is one of the best yoga asanas to strengthen your ankles, thighs, calves and spinal column. It enables stretching of the groin area, thighs, thorax and shoulder blades. This asana enhances your stability and help you achieve a balanced body, mind and soul. It also expands your lung capacity and help you breathe well. If you wish to achieve toned arms and upper back muscles, this asana is a must-try.
See More: Yoga Scale Pose
