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Tree pose [1] or Vrikshasana (Sanskrit: वृक्षासन, romanized: vṛkṣāsana) is a balancing asana. It is one of the very few standing poses in medieval hatha yoga , and remains popular in modern yoga as exercise . [ 2 ]
The rock relief "Descent of the Ganges" at Mahabalipuram appears to show a person standing in Vrikshasana (tree pose) at top left. [1] 7th century. The standing asanas are the yoga poses or asanas with one or both feet on the ground, and the body more or less upright. They are among the most distinctive features of modern yoga as exercise.
Asanas were claimed to provide both spiritual and physical benefits in medieval hatha yoga texts. More recently, studies have provided evidence that they improve flexibility, strength, and balance; to reduce stress and conditions related to it; and specifically to alleviate some diseases such as asthma [ 3 ] [ 4 ] and diabetes.
The 19th century Sritattvanidhi uses the name Ardha Chandrasana for a different pose, Vrikshasana. [4] Swami Yogesvarananda used the name in his 1970 First Steps to Higher Yoga for a pose similar to Kapotasana, Pigeon. [4] The modern usage of the name is found in B. K. S. Iyengar's 1966 Light on Yoga. [5]
A single asana is listed for each main pose, whether or not there are variations. Thus for Sirsasana (Yoga headstand), only one pose is illustrated, although the pose can be varied by moving the legs apart sideways or front-and-back, by lowering one leg to the floor, by folding the legs into lotus posture, by turning the hips to one side, by placing the hands differently on the ground, and so on.
Tadasana is the basic standing asana on which many other poses are founded. The feet are together and the hands are at the sides of the body. The posture is entered by standing with the feet together, grounding evenly through the feet and lifting up through the crown of the head.
To enter the pose from sitting, the knees are bent, and the body's weight is shifted back until the soles of the feet lift off the ground. In the pose, the body is balanced on the sitting bones, not leaning right back on to the tailbone.
Virasana is a basic kneeling asana and the starting position for several forward and backwards bends and certain twists. Virasana may also be used as an alternative to other seated asanas such as the padmasana (lotus pose) for meditation.