Asana Tip: Vrikshasana (Tree Pose)

Q: My standing leg feels unsteady in the tree pose. What would help?

Use the concept of “resistance training” to stabilize your standing leg. For example, to balance on your right leg, push your left foot more firmly into the resistance of your inner right leg. This simple action requires both legs to firm more deeply, resulting in more stability in the standing leg, and more openness in the hip joint of the bent leg. With your newfound sense of steadiness in the legs and pelvis, tune into the grounding, downward-moving energy you’ve created through the action in your legs. Notice how that energy meets the resistance of the floor, then travels back up the legs and spine as your tree pose expands to the heavens with more stability, confidence, and ease.