About this Asana Digest

Poses

Vrksasana (Tree Pose)

Objective

Become knowledgeable about the pose and review detailed teaching considerations.

Description

Explain the Sanskrit naming; contraindications and cautions; associated benefits and typical effects; instructions and cues for setting up and practicing the pose; variations to meet particular intentions and needs; and more teaching considerations.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Asana Digests focus in on teaching specific poses. Please be aware of the groundwork and teaching support here: Asana Category – Balancing.

Vrksasana

vrik-SHAHS-uh-nah
“vrksa” = tree
Tree Pose

Heart of the Pose

• Standing Balance
• Spinal Extension

Joint Actions

The following are from Leslie Kaminoff’s book, Yoga Anatomy.

• Standing leg: hip neutral extension, internal rotation, adduction; knee extension
• Lifted leg: hip flexion, external rotation, abduction; knee flexion; tibia external rotation; ankle dorsiflexion; foot pronation
• See also: Joint Movements & ROM

Notes

• Commonly presented as having arms raised upward.
• In Iyengar Yoga, palms meet overhead.
• “Tight inner thigh muscles might prevent the knee from turning outward. That is why it is important to warm up the inner and outer hips before attempting this pose.” [Olga Kabel]

One of the Oldest Hatha Yoga Poses in Recorded History

Tree pose (Vrksasana)… happens to be one of the oldest Hatha Yoga poses in recorded history, according to Richard Rosen, author of Original Yoga. In fact, it is one of only two standing poses from the earliest texts on yoga postures; the other one is a form of Powerful Pose (Utkatasana), also called Chair pose in modern yoga. – Dr. Baxter Bell MD, Yoga for Times of Change, Tree pose (Vrksasana) link

Navigating to What You Need

Asana Digests are precisely organized so that you can quickly pinpoint what you need in the moment.

Please navigate using the quick menu above.

More Tools & Support

• Asana Categories
• General Alignment Principles
• Alignment Cueing