Yoga Pose Favorites

Doing yoga is such a wonderful activity that really takes away daily stress while improving flexibility, strength and peace of mind. Although I enjoy many poses while during yoga, there is one that really stands out to me. This pose is called Tree Pose. I like this pose because the position is very natural to me. The directions to executing this pose are as follows:

1. You begin by standing straight up with your feet parallel and your arms down by your side. Shifting your weight from side to side will help adjust your balance.

2. Shift weight over to you left foot then bend down and grab a hold of your right ankle.

3. Next, pull up your right leg up to meet your left inner thigh making sure you are standing tall. Press your right foot into your left inside thigh to create resistance.

4. Press palms together in prayer position and look straight ahead focusing on an object to aid in balance. Or, you could raise your arms above your head straight up to the sky with your palms facing inwards towards each other. Or, you can touch your palms in the air for another modification.

5. Continue for 30 to 60 seconds and then switch and repeat with the other leg.

This pose really focuses on the thighs giving them strength. In addition to the thighs, Tree Pose helps in strengthening the spine, ankles and calves. This is a perfect position for increasing your balance as well. One tip I would like to include is if you are having trouble balancing when beginning this pose, stand with your back against a wall. You will still get the benefits from the pose while having increased stability.