Did you say that as a kid? I know, I’m dating myself here, but I remember it being said to me in the schoolyard when I was a bit younger – most likely by my little brother! 😊
Well, as adults, we can make like a tree while gaining HUGE benefits for our brain and body. Like improving our balance, reducing our risk for a fall, and keeping the part of your brain that’s in charge of memory and concentration in tip top shape! Cool.
Click the “Read More” button below to find out how.
Meanwhile, here’s a photo of a silly winter tree that didn’t leave…
Tree Pose is a simple balance pose that most people like to do. It can be done holding onto a chair or with one hand on a wall in the beginning until your balance improves. Even if your balance is good right now, you want to make this exercise a regular part of your day to keep it that way!
- Begin by standing with your right foot next to your wall or chair, your feet under your hips, spine long (as in last video) and shoulders relaxed.
- Find a spot to gaze at, either directly in front of you, or on the floor. Concentrating on a spot helps you keep your balance; just make sure it doesn’t move… Once in class one of my students found a spot that was actually a spider and as it moved, so did she!
- Bring all your weight into the right foot (nearest the chair or wall) and set the left foot on top of the right one, or on the right thigh, or calf. Just keep that foot off that knee.
- You can have your arms up, or out, like the branches of a tree, which makes it easier to hold on. When your balance improves, you can place your arms in Namaste position.
- Start out holding on with your whole hand. Then, as you begin to feel a bit more stable on one foot, you can hold with fingertips, then go to three fingertips, two, one, etc. When you feel that you can let go, do it slowly and keep that hand near the wall. Don’t pull it away quickly as that tends to throw your balance off.
- Work up to remaining in this lovely balance pose for at least a minute on each side.
In addition to the benefits that all the balance poses offer, like reducing our risk of falls and strengthening our legs, Tree Pose works the same part of the brain that controls memory and concentration, so as we age, it’s fun to “make like a tree” and improve the old brain cells!
Do this exercise with me in the video now and let me know how you like it.
Best of Health,
Kathi
