Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Tree
Balancing postures are some of the most challenging poses that exist. A lot of people struggle with calming their mind enough to maintain the balanced state that is required. Tree pose or Vrksasana (vrik-SHAHS-anna) is a basic asymmetrical standing balance.
Stand up tall with your spine lengthened and shoulders back and down. Begin to shift the weight of your body to one foot, letting the opposite one grow light. Find balance in the standing leg and when you feel ready move the foot with no weight and place in anywhere on the standing leg above or below the knee. The main thing here is not how high you place the foot but the state of balance that you create. The foot can be placed at the ankle so the toes still remain on the ground, or it can be placed as high up into the groin as possible. Do not place the foot on the knee, the added pressure is detrimental over time. You want to focus on bringing you bent knee out to the side, not in front of you, and close your eyes or focus them on something just ahead of you on the ground that is not moving. Focus on your breathing and hold the pose for as long as you can.
This posture works the entire lower body as well as chest muscles and arms depending on their position.
Gita Verse:
Chapter 3 Verse 17
Sri Krishna:
But those who realize the self are always satisfied. Having found the source of joy and fulfillment, they no longer seek happiness from the external world.
To me this means that once you realize that you are pure, free forever and nothing matters, you still need to eat, have a home, have clothes and possessions. And there is nothing wrong with that. Some people choose to sell their possessions and move to ashrams, and others continue with their regular lives. There is simply a realization from both that none of it matters. When you achieve a true state of happiness you no longer seek out happiness through attachment to people or objects, everything you need you already have.
Namaste.
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