Approaching hard movements with ease on our mats enables us to take a calm approach to hard situations in life. Of course, there will always be stresses and challenges in life, but what matters most is how we respond to them. Then we can apply what we learn and move forward with grace and peace.

I have designed a quick and simple Tree Pose experiment to help each of us discover, in our own way, just how we measure up to the challenges of life. The experiment will also help us to focus, build strength, and help with better balance, enhancing our entire yoga practice as well as our daily life.

Below you will find 3 Tree Pose variations, all of which involve balancing on one leg without putting your foot down.

Remember to breathe. Also remember that:

Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.

Charles Swindoll

and

What consumes your mind controls your life.

Proverbs 4:23

For best results on and off our mat, let us focus on God and not our circumstances. Fixing our eyes on the prize will provide true, lasting health and wellness!

1.) Praying Tree Pose

Slide your left foot as high as you can up your right leg. Stand tall with your shoulders down, neck long, stomach pulled in and palms pressed together. Keep your head forward and your eyes locked on an object in front of you – it doesn’t matter what it is, just focus on it. Keep a steady breath and do not look to the sides. Hold this pose for 10-30 seconds, or 1-3 minutes for more advanced yogis.

To make all these exercises easier, place your foot on your ankle, calf, knee or lower thigh.

Do not move. Proceed to number two, High Praying Tree Pose.

2.) High Praying Tree Pose

Do not lower your leg. Once you feel comfortable, slide your hands up over your head. Hold this pose for 10-30 seconds, or 1-3 minutes for more advanced yogis. Do not move again. Proceed to number three, Eagle In a Tree Pose.

3.) Eagle In a Tree Pose

Once you have completed step 1 and 2, begin number 3 by holding your arms out in front of you with bent elbows. Now slide your left hand under your right elbow. Then swirl it up your arm until your palms meet (or as high as it will go). Hold this pose for 10-30 seconds, or 1-3 minutes for more advanced yogis.

A few questions we can ask yourselves once we have completed the experiment:

What did we focus on?

Where were our eyes?

Did we move our heads?

Did we move with ease or did we wobble, sway, lower our foot, or fall?

Did we keep a steady breath?

Did we hold our breath at any time? If we did, then when?

When we thought of moving to the next position, what happened?

Was it hard to be still?

Did we focus on how hard or easy it was?

Did we focus on everything around us?

If you enjoyed this experiment, up the challenge by doing it in the middle of busy places. Try to stand on rocks on the shore with waves flowing in and out. How about in the office, airport, church, library, party, sidewalk, or park? You choose! Perhaps you will see how you react to stress when it comes along.

keep calm

and yoga on!

xxoo

<3