Pose of the week

Vrksasana (Tree pose)

Benefits

• Strengthens thighs, calves, ankles, and spine
• Stretches the groins and inner thighs, chest and shoulders
• Improves sense of balance
• Relieves sciatica and reduces flat feet

Contraindications and Cautions

• Headache
• Insomnia
• Low blood pressure
• High blood pressure: Don't raise arms overhead

Balance asanas can be challenging, but I find them to be some of the most fun poses to do. They help develop muscle tone and coordination and also strength and agility. They help improve posture because you really need to elongate your spine in order to keep yourself from falling over. On top of the obvious physical benefits this type of posture helps the mind find one pointed attention; if your mind is not focused, you will not be able to hold the pose. Even relatively simple balances like Vrksasana (Tree Pose) demand our full, wakeful attention in a way that other standing poses do not. There's no faking it: The instant you lose focus, you fall over. There is an unavoidable immediacy to these balancing asanas. Standing on one foot, you naturally drop extraneous thoughts to focus on the task at hand. That's why these poses can instill a deep sense of calm even though they require intense, unwavering alertness.

The three essential elements of balance are alignment, strength, and attention. Alignment of the body with gravity is crucial; it makes balance physically possible. Strength gives the power to create, hold, and adjust alignment. And attention continually monitors alignment so you know how to correct it from one moment to the next. All concepts that can be transferred easily to every day life!

image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/myyogaonline