Tree pose

The name comes from the Sanskrit words {{Lang|sa-latn|vṛkṣa}} ({{Lang|sa|वृक्ष}}) meaning 'tree',{{cite web | url = http://www.ashtangayoga.info/practice/asana-vinyasa-series/surya-namaskara-a-sun-salutation/item/urdhva-vrikshasana-426/ | title=Urdhva Vrikshasana - AshtangaYoga.info | access-date=2011-04-11}} and {{Lang|sa-latn|āsana}} ({{Lang|sa|आसन}}) meaning 'posture'.{{cite book|last=Sinha |first=S. C. |title=Dictionary of Philosophy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-zzRvh1fRzEC&pg=PA18 |date=1 June 1996 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-293-9 |page=18}}

A 7th-century stone carving in Mahabalipuram appears to contain a figure standing on one leg, perhaps indicating that a pose similar to vrikshasana was in use at that time. It is said that sadhus disciplined themselves by choosing to meditate in the pose.{{cite web |authorlink=Carol Krucoff|last1=Krucoff |first1=Carol |title=Find Your Roots in Tree Pose |url=https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/find-your-roots |publisher=Yoga Journal |date=28 August 2007}}

The pose is described in the 17th century Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā 2.36. More recently it has been called iconic of modern yoga; it is often featured in yoga magazines, and practised in public displays such as for the International Day of Yoga.{{cite web |last=Mulcahy |first=Matt |title=Tree Pose (Vrksasana) |date=9 October 2020 |url=https://www.ommagazine.com/man-on-the-mat-matt-mulcahy/ |publisher=Om Yoga & Lifestyle Magazine |access-date=19 December 2021 |quote=An iconic standing balance that draws its roots from hatha yoga, tree pose remains popular in modern practice and offers an exploration of hip-opening capacity.}}{{cite web |last=Budig |first=Kathryn |title=How to Do a Yoga Tree Pose |url=https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a19931792/how-to-do-a-yoga-tree-pose/ |publisher=Women's Health Magazine |access-date=19 December 2021 |date=11 December 2012 |quote= It’s an iconic posture that symbolizes balance and harmony. }}{{cite web |last=Kristlova |first=Eva |title=Quick Standing Sequence |url=https://directory.yogaallianceprofessionals.org/articles/quick-standing-sequence |publisher=Yoga Alliance |access-date=19 December 2021 |date=14 June 2020 |quote=From here we enter one of the most iconic yoga poses – Tree Pose.}}

File:Ganga Mahabalipuram2.jpg|Rock relief at Mahabalipuram seems to show Vrikshasana at top left.

The pose is entered from Tadasana. The most common form has one knee bent and the foot of that leg placed on the inner thigh of the standing leg; alternatively, the bent leg may be placed in half lotus position. The hands are held above the head, either pointed directly upwards and unclasped, or clasped together in anjali mudra.{{sfn|Mehta|Mehta|Mehta|1990|p=21}}

Vrikshasana is derived from the Sanskrit term which combines Vriksha and position Vriksha means Tree, and Asana means posture. Vrikshasan or the Tree pose is a lovely meditation which integrates our body, mind and breath . This implores the qualities of mercy, generosity, flexibility, tolerance, strength, endurance, balance and grace which helps an individual to achieve overall growth in his or her life. As rightly mentioned in the Brahma Samhita, which is an ancient book where Lord Brahma instantly composed poetic praises for the supreme divinity. {{cite web | url=https://blog.naturefit.in/tree-pose-vrikshasana/ | title=Tree Pose (Vrikshasana) | date=30 May 2022 }}

File:The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju performing Yoga, on the occasion of the 3rd International Day of Yoga – 2017, in Gangtok, Sikkim on June 21, 2017 (2).jpg|The Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, in a public yoga session on the 3rd International Day of Yoga in Gangtok, Sikkim, 21 June 2017

File:USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) 140720-N-CS564-302 (14711440211).jpg|A US Navy yoga display on the flight deck of USS George H.W. Bush, using Vrikshasana and Natarajasana, 2014

In Bikram Yoga, Tree pose (which it calls "Tadasana") has one leg folded in half lotus and the hands together over the chest in prayer position. It is followed by bending the straight leg into a squatting position (called Toe Stand or "Padangushtasana" in Bikram Yoga) with the heel raised and the thigh resting on the calf and heel, the other leg remaining in half lotus.{{cite web |title=The 26 Bikram Hot Yoga Postures |url=https://sadhana-wellbeing.com/bikram-hot-yoga/the-26-yoga-postures/ |publisher=Sadhana Yoga & Wellbeing |access-date=9 May 2019}}

The pose may be modified according to the practitioner's ability to balance. The hands may be held apart, either straight up or out at an angle, or lowered into prayer position in front of the chest. Or, one heel can be raised and placed against the shin of the standing leg, if necessary keeping the toes on the ground. Another option is to stand beside a wall and place one hand on it. Alternatively, the pose can be practised reclining on the floor, if need be with a block under the bent knee.{{cite web |last1=Anon |title=3 Ways to Safely Modify Tree Pose |url=https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/3-ways-safely-modify-tree-pose/ |publisher=Yoga Journal |access-date=23 November 2022 |date=18 November 2014}}

File:Vrksasana.jpg|A group practising outdoors

File:Breath yoga with Shaymaa.jpg|Variant with one leg in half lotus

File:Padangushtasana, Heinz Grill 1992 (cropped).jpg|Heinz Grill in Padangushtasana,
Toe Stand

{{further|Yoga as therapy}}

Tree pose has been recommended for older people to help them maintain good balance and so to reduce the risk of injury from falls.{{cite web |title=Healthy Aging: Reference: Best Balance Exercises for Seniors |url=https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/best-balance-exercises-for-seniors#1 |website=Compass by WebMD |access-date=23 November 2022}} There is preliminary evidence that a yoga programme including tree pose may help to prevent falls among older people.{{cite journal | last1=Keay | first1=Lisa | last2=Praveen | first2=Devarsetty | last3=Salam | first3=Abdul | last4=Rajasekhar | first4=K. V. | last5=Tiedemann | first5=Anne | last6=Thomas | first6=Vimala | last7=Jagnoor | first7=Jagnoor | last8=Sherrington | first8=Cathie | last9=Ivers | first9=Rebecca Q. |display-authors=3 | title=A mixed methods evaluation of yoga as a fall prevention strategy for older people in India | journal=Pilot and Feasibility Studies | volume=4 | issue=1 | date=1 May 2018 | page=74 | doi=10.1186/s40814-018-0264-x | pmid=29736256 | pmc=5928579 | doi-access=free }}

• List of asanas

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book | last=Iyengar |first=B.K.S. |author-link=B. K. S. Iyengar | title=Light on Yoga | year=1979 | publisher=Schocken Books | isbn=978-0-8052-1031-6 | edition=Revised | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AYP_fDMlSjIC&q=editions:ISBN0007107005 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Mehta |first1=Silva |last2=Mehta |first2=Mira |author2-link=Mira Mehta |last3=Mehta |first3=Shyam |date=1990 |title=Yoga: The Iyengar Way |publisher=Dorling-Kindersley}}

{{Asana}}

{{Yoga as exercise}}

{{Hatha yoga}}

Category:Standing asanas

Category:Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas

Category:Asymmetric asanas