Pose Breakdown: Tree - Yoga Tutorial

Make like a tree and root. Tree Pose teaches you to remain strong and grounded despite any winds that try to shake you. It’s one of the first balancing asanas many yogis learn, and it’s a great primer for other one-legged standing poses — or just a simple way to invite focus and serenity into your practice.

Learn how to do Tree Pose (Vrksasana) with Alo Moves instructor Briohny Smyth. This video tutorial will teach you the proper alignment and technique to help you safely move into Tree Pose. To put it into practice, check out 5 Tree Pose yoga flows that will leave you standing tall and strong.

Benefits of tree pose

  • Improves your balance, stability, and focus

  • Stretches your inner thighs, groin, chest, and shoulders

  • Strengthens your thighs, calves, ankles, and feet

  • Helps relieve sciatic pain

HOW TO DO TREE POSE

1.

Come to a standing position with your feet together.

2.

Find a focal point to help you balance, then lift one leg up off the ground, grabbing hold of your knee.

3.

Root down through all four corners of your standing-leg foot to find balance.

4.

Grab the ankle of your lifted leg with the same-side hand. Flex your foot, and bring the sole of your foot as high as you can on the standing-leg inner thigh with your toes facing down. Inner calf is okay too, but avoid the inner knee.

5.

Press your foot and thigh together to create a lock.

6.

Bring your hands to your heart, or reach your arms high overhead to the fullest expression of the pose.

If you have trouble balancing in Tree Pose

If you find yourself falling out of Tree Pose, don’t worry! Just pop right back in. For some extra stability, you can try keeping the toes of your lifted leg on the ground at first.

Remember to keep your eye on a focal point the whole time, too — a small point in the room to focus on, whether it’s an irregularity in the wall or part of the decor. It’s helpful to keep it at eye level.

Ready to bring Tree Pose into your practice? These 5 Tree Pose yoga flows are available for free with a two-week trial to AloMoves.com.

 
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