Have you ever noticed when you try to hold a simple balance such as Tree Pose, that you feel you can’t because you are wobbling all over the place? Perhaps your mind was full of thoughts or self-judgment. It’s much more challenging to hold a yoga posture when our minds are busy or critical. Whereas, when we are in a calm, centered space of mind, body, and spirit, we can achieve yoga balances much easier. If you practice balances regularly, you will notice that you achieve a state of “balance” more often in your daily life. Through balances you train your mind to be quiet and you enter a space of being fully present in your body in that moment. I encourage you to practice these five simple steps to achieve balance through yoga, and you will develop a quieter mind and a peaceful spirit. ~Sara Holliday MFT, CPT, HHP
Five Steps to Achieve Balance through Yoga (Tree Pose)
Step 1: Stand tall with your hands in prayer position. Close your eyes and take deep yoga breaths. As you exhale, imagine a root is extending out of your right foot, grounding into the earth.
Step 2: Breathe in, “I am”, exhale out, “balanced”. Breathe in, “I am”, exhale out, “centered”. Breather in, “I am”, exhale out, “calm”.
Step 3: Find a focal point on the floor or wall and touch your left foot to the inside of your right leg so your left knee points out to the side. Continue to focus the breath into your “rooted” right foot.
Step 4: Use your left hand to bring your left foot to the inside of your right thigh, and bring your hands to prayer position. Continue to keep your eyes on your focal point while using your yoga breath.
Step 5: Play with the branches (arms) of your tree. When you feel your tree is “grounded”, place your arms in the shape of a “V” over head, or sway your arms like branches of a tree. Hold for several breaths, and repeat the sequence on the other side.