Day 25: Learning how to be strong : Vrksasana

Date : Monday, October 28th, 2013
Day: 25

OK boys and girls. This is the end of the journey (on the board). Technically though from just the number of days I have gone to class, I have 5 more days to go. And ok, I skipped a few here and there. How many you ask? well, hmm, 3 :) I can blame it on that nagging pain in my right thigh, but it's a combination of many other factors. But I'll tell you this, my body needed that rest. And voila (!) the pain has vanished. 

So I finally went for the evening Ashtanga class by Michelle on Monday. And putting that last dot on that chart, man oh man! What accomplishment. OK self praise stops here. I am still beating myself for missing 3 days on a row. 

So there you go, my lovely smilies on the board :)

What shall we talk about today. Let's talk about the Vrksasana or the tree pose. It comes from the Sanskrit word 'Vriks' meaning plant or tree and asana means posture. This asana as easy as it seems requires immense concentration and stability. And it done correctly, can give you such immense peace of mind. There are loads of variations of the tree pose. But for today we will talk about the regular, traditional Vrksasana. My teachers keep telling me that the asana is meant to evoke the stability, balance, strength and openness that you see in a tree. It's strong, its stable and it gives you shade. 

Getting into Vrksasana is not as complicated as staying in it is. 


(Image Courtesy :shaktiyogawithjessica.wordpress.com)

• You stand in tadasana. Shift the weight on slightly onto the left foot, keeping the inner foot firm on the ground and bend your right knee. Reach down with your right hand and grab your right ankle and  place the sole on the inner side of the left thigh. Make sure you do not place it on the knee. It's too dangerous and harmful if there is immense pressure on the knee. If you can't reach your right leg high up to the left thigh, then place you foot on your ankle.

• Press the right heel into the inner left groin, toes pointing towards the floor. The center of your pelvis should be directly over the left foot.

• Rest your hands on your hips and make sure you hips are in a neutral position and the top of your shorts or pants parallel to the floor.

• Lengthen your tailbone toward the floor. Firmly press the right foot sole against the inner thigh and resist with the outer left leg, creating two opposite forces. 

• Get your hands together in a namaskar or the anjali mudra and gaze at a fixed point in front of you on the floor.

• If you feel stable and comfortable and you right foot is not slipping down, reach your arms up to the ceiling, like a tree spreading it's branches. Slowly take your gaze up towards the ceiling and do a small back bend. And if you can (i haven't been able to get stability in this part yet) close your eyes and you're now transformed into a strong tree.

• Stay here for as long as you like and then slowly open your eyes come back from your backbend, and lower your hands down to anjali mudra. And use your right hand to slowly un-bend your right knee with immense care.

• Repeat on the other side.

When you look up and open you chest to the ceiling and spread you arms wide welcoming everything that is positive, you feel so alive. If you are stable what you can learn from this asana is tremendous strength. 

My lesson for this week from this asana is strength. pure solid, hold your ground, be calm, stable and know what you want strength.

Namaste