Yoga Love | Vrksasana – Tree Pose
The one form of fitness that I am most fond of is Yoga. I have been playing, having fun with Yoga since my school years and I have my Father to thank for introducing me to it. Whenever he was posted in field areas ( he is ex-infantry and a field area is where families cannot live with the officer due to lack of safety because of hostile social conditions, etc ) he would mail me or bring back photographs of him in yoga poses that he practiced. I am talking about times when you actually had to buy postal stamps, mail physical letters, and wait. It was a lengthy process, but the fruit was so much sweeter. ( I sounded 40 to myself while typing that statement but I’ll let it stay ).
Back to yoga, My Dad never sent me too many photographs, but whatever few he did, really had an impact on me. I have since clung on to Yoga and made it a part of my life. I am not a serious Yoga practitioner or learnt it professionally and am certainly not qualified to teach it as yet but what I would like to do is share my love for it with you. In hopes that I may perhaps influence someone else to try it out and make it a part of their lives.
The one thing that I know Yoga has improved for me for certainly is my flexibility and my state of mind. I cannot be sure about how much it has helped in me losing or maintaining my weight or form mainly because it is not the only form of exercise I indulge in. I can’t really explain in words but Yoga does help me mentally too. It opens me up in a certain way, makes my mind firmer and maybe even gives me more confidence in myself. I am not talking about confidence in my physical appearance but overall confidence – in everything.
There is so much more that I want to say about Yoga but one blog post will not nearly be enough. However, I am glad I have finally started sharing my love for Yoga on the blog and sharing it with you. I intend to do many more such posts where I share the asanas/ poses I myself practice and love. I would love to know how you like my posts on Yoga, if there is something you would like me to change or add and what you would like to see.
Moving base to Goa for a bit has made me do the one thing that I love so SO much – Yoga on the beach.
I’m starting with ‘Vrksasana’ or Vriksasana’ which literally means a ‘tree pose’
Vrksasana (vrik-SHAHS-anna)
This asana gives a good stretch to your inner thighs, groin and shoulders & helps in strengthening your core, inner things and leg muscles. It is great for developing your balance and also calms your mind and nervous system while increasing your body mind awareness. It also builds strength in your ankles.
How to do it:
~ Standing tall, place your feet parallel and hip width apart.
~ Try and focus on 1 visual point with your eyes if possible (it helps with the balance)
~ Engage your core, shift your weight on your left foot, inhale, raise your right foot and place your right sole on your left leg – on the calf, mid thigh or upper thigh (whatever you are comfortable with). Make sure your right toes are pointing downward and you right leg is pointing to the right, not the front.
~ Your pelvis should not be dropping in any direction and the body as a whole should be a straight line.
~ Keep your core engaged to stay in a straight position.
~ Place your plams together (like when praying). Inhale again & slowly raise your arms overhead.
~ Avoid raising your shoulder blades since that increases tension in the neck.
~ Stay in this position for as long as you like with deep breathing.
~ Exhale to lower your palms & right foot slowly. Shake your left foot and repeat the same for the other leg.
Note of Caution: Do not place the sole of the lifted foot directly on the side of the knee. Above or below is fine. Additionally, raising the arms above the head for any length of time may involve risks for persons with high blood pressure in which case they can be kept at chest level.
Sports Bra + Leggings: Forever21
Like I said before, I would love to know how you found this post, how you liked it and how you didn’t. You can always reach me by commenting here or on any of my social media profiles –> Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest |
I love that you talk about yoga is such a non compulsive but a way of life type of way. Clearly one can understand from your post, how much benefit it has given you. i would love to improve my flexibility and keep it that way for many years to come. Hopefully be able to bend at 90 if I am still alive π Surely will be following all your posts on it.
Thank so much for such a lovely comment. It really means a lot π
Thanks for posting about “Vrksasana” .. It certainly going to help who are trying to do yoga . It will be good if you post about other form of yoga.. I Can’t do that on beach but at least i will try them on Home π
Thank you so much for your comment Brijesh. I will be sharing lots more Yoga poses on the blog. Stay tuned π
Love love love love! Muah!
Yay! Thenx π muah
Hey Akanksha,
Loved the post. I have recently started practicing Yoga and it has helped me immensely. I feel more calm and connected to myself. It also helps me stay positive. I am glad you did a post on something as simple yet effective as vrksasna – it is something even newbies like us can practice and it does help in increasing awareness about the body in general.
Thank you so much for the lovely words Ankita. Yes even the simple poses greatly help so it’s nice to share those π
well begun, with this you are on course to return to society, though a tag early. GOOD. Yoga benefits all ages, with medical riders if any. I have been practicing for almost 20 years. Have had all round mental and physical gains; most noticeable is that my long distance sight has CERTAILY improved but not yet 6/6. Akanksha keep posting yoga.
Yayyiiee!! Thank you daddy!! Your first comment on my blog. I love you tooooo π
Can you ask your dad to post how his long distance sight has improved. I really would like to share the exercises with my sister who’s power recently increased astronomically that it’s so worrying. I will wait for the posts. thank you
So my dad does a lot, and by a lot I mean A LOT of breathing exercises like anulom-vilom which has helped him and he also does eye exercises.
Can’t wait for more of your ‘yoga’ posts!
Anulom Vilom, great. I will try to follow as I need to fix my eye issues. Also, I have put on a whole lot of weight, would really appreciate something for getting rid of the excesses. I hear Surya Namaskar is good π
This is such a lovely post. Even reading it makes me feel calmer. Thank you! And looking forward to more such posts from you.
Certainly a great way of living. Everybody should know and learn about yoga. It has the potential the life.