By To have more complete practices or yoga routines, you should ideally always contain a forward bending position for opening chest, a twist, a balancing act and a few minutes of relaxation. This is an example, but we can always choose one of each group of positions that have similar benefits. In this article, we will see how to perform Vriksasana.
- Before making any asana practice, it is important to warm the body with five rounds of sun salutations.
- For Vriksasana posture, balance the body and begins with Tadasana. Stand with your feet parallel, slightly apart from each other to the width of your hips for stability. Be aware of your foot contact with the ground.
- Put your hands together in front of your chest, keeping your shoulders relaxed and lead the eye to a fixed height of your eyes point as it will help you keep your balance.
- Now carry the full weight of your body to the right leg, well planted on the toes and the front of the foot. Feel how you are perfectly stable like the trunk of a tree whose roots are buried several meters underground.
- With attention on the balance on the floor and yoga mat, lift the left foot and bring it to the inside of your left thigh, fingers of your feet pointing toward the ground. If you are more comfortable in your calf support, the important thing is that it is above or below the knee, but never on it. If your foot slips and you have enough flexibility, you can support your left ankle on your right thigh.
- Pay attention to alignment for keeping the knee turned out and hips square to the front. You should not be tense and must be strong but flexible to move the upper part of your body.
- If you have balance, you can raise your arms to the sky, keeping palms together with concentration.
- Hold this posture for thirty seconds and feel how you are firm and stable, connected to the earth with leg exercises for active support, back straight and the rest of the body relaxed.
- To exit the position, do it in a controlled way i.e. slowly returning the left foot to the floor, arms down again, hands at chest level and return to Tadasana. Repeat with the opposite leg.
Vriksasana is the most famous balancing posture in yoga tradition. Among its benefits, we can say that it is to promote physical and inner balance, concentration and peace. It also strengthens legs and opens the hips. To excel at this yoga posture, you are welcome to join yoga teacher training Bali Ubud.
