Vrksasana (Tree Pose)

This year has tested all of us in so many ways. For me, it began with the heartbreaking loss of my father to Parkinson’s disease.

Not long after, the world changed overnight when COVID hit and everything seemed to fall apart. Through it all, I’ve leaned deeply into my yoga practice—it’s kept me grounded, patient, focused, and strong.

I’m currently pouring my heart into a cookbook, homeschooling my two youngest kids, and recently crossed the finish line of a half marathon I began training for last summer.

Life feels full to the brim, but staying balanced and rooted has become my greatest practice of all.

Through it all, yoga has been my anchor. Each breath, each posture has helped me stay patient, focused, and rooted in the present moment. Tree pose, especially, reminds me how to find my footing when the world feels uncertain.

Trees have always been symbols of longevity, courage, and quiet resilience. From a single seed, they rise toward the light, bending but never breaking.

They teach us that with faith, determination, and a deep connection to the earth—and to Spirit—we too can grow into our own strength.

For centuries, holy men known as sadhus have meditated in this posture as a form of deep self-discipline.

It’s one of the oldest and most reliable ways to return to balance—a simple yet powerful pose that strengthens the legs and spine while opening the hips and heart.

Balancing poses teach us life’s essential lessons: how to root down, find our center, and quiet the mind.

And the process itself—falling, wobbling, and trying again—cultivates patience, humility, persistence, and even a sense of humor.

1. Stand firmly with your feet planted on the ground, back straight, and gaze forward.
2. Put your arms by your side. Be sure to distribute your weight evenly across the soles of both feet.
3. Slowly shift your weight onto the left foot, then bend your right knee upward. Rest your right foot along your inner left calf, or reach to grasp your right ankle and guide it to your thigh.
4. Find a comfortable place to rest your foot, either above or below the knee, just not directly over it. Do not lock the standing knee.
5. Either keep your hands on your hips or bring them together in a prayer position at chest level. Choose your Drishti, or a point directly in front of you to focus your attention and gaze.
6. As you settle into Tree pose, press the right foot into the left leg, and the left leg into the right foot. This will help you find equal pressure and ensures that your hips are squared toward the front.
7. When you are stable and steady, breathe in and raise your arms overhead with your fingertips pointing to the sky.
8. You can stay here with palms facing each other, fingertips splayed, or choose to bring the palms together in an overhead prayer position.
9. Take 5-10 breaths, the lower your foot and repeat on the other side.
10. Don’t worry if one side is more comfortable than the other one. That’s why it’s called a yoga practice! It’s not uncommon for the body to be unbalanced or off-centered. The goal is to work on strengthening and balancing both sides of the body.
11. Namaste!