Half Lotus Tree Pose (Ardha Padmasana Vrksasana) can be a pretty relaxing balance posture to add to your daily practice. I love hip opening and balancing poses because it helps us release emotional tension that we tend to hold in our hips. So when we go through our day, we often unconsciously keep those negative energies there in our hips and sometimes in our shoulders. Let’s get into the benefits of this posture!
Benefits
This pose brings flexibility to the ankles, knees, and hips, and opens the heart — improving your balance, concentration, and posture. Half Lotus Tree pose also strengthens your core, especially your oblique muscles in the abs. It also regulates the central nervous and lymphatic systems, releasing any blockages and pathways in your body which brings a clear, calm and peaceful mind.
Steps
- Start from standing at the top of your mat and firmly root the 4 corners of your left foot, your big toe, pinky toe and both sides of your heels.
- Lift your right foot off the ground. With your left hand, bring your right ankle to the left side of your hips.
- Now bring your right arm behind you bending at the elbow, right hand holds the inside of the left elbow.
- Make sure your form is strong by lifting the knee cap of the standing leg and engaging the glutes. Draw the shoulders down and back, lifting and opening the chest and elongating the spine.
- Breathe it in here for at least 5 deep breaths. Try staying here for a minute. Maybe closing the eyes to bring in more inner awareness.
- When you’re ready, let the right foot go and rotate the left ankle to shake off any tension. Repeat steps one through five on the other side!
Additional Tips
- You may like to try out any kind of arm variation; maybe take the free hand and place a hand mudra on the thigh of the bent leg, or grow your tree by lifting both arms up palms facing each other. You can focus on opening up the hips by bringing the bent leg outwards.
- It also helps to keep in mind the flow of energy that’s from the foot rooting to the earth and extending up and out of the crown of your head.
That’s all for now! Hope you like this week’s pose! Are there any poses that you would like me to break down for you? Let me know in your comments below! 🙂
