Vrksasana
Encyclopedia
Asana
Asana is a body position, typically associated with the practice of Yoga, originally identified as a mastery of sitting still, with the spine as a conduit of biodynamic union...
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Etymology
The name comes from the Sanskrit words vriksa or vriksha (वृक्ष, vṛkṣa) meaning "tree", and asana (आसन) meaning "posture" or "seat".Description
From mountain poseTadasana
- Etymology :The name comes from the Sanskrit words tada meaning "mountain" and asana meaning "posture" or "seat".- Description :It is a very basic standing posture with feet together and hands at the sides of the body. Yoga practitioners consider it a pose that promotes confidence and happiness...
, weight is shifted to one leg, for example, starting with the left leg. The entire sole of the foot remains in contact with the floor. The right knee is bent and the right foot placed on the left inner thigh, or in half lotus position. With the toes of the right foot pointing directly down, the left foot, center of the pelvis, shoulders and head are all vertically aligned
Vertical direction
In astronomy, geography, geometry and related sciences and contexts, a direction passing by a given point is said to be vertical if it is locally aligned with the gradient of the gravity field, i.e., with the direction of the gravitational force at that point...
. Hands are typically held above the head either pointed directly upwards and unclasped, or clasped together in anjali mudra
Añjali Mudrā
Añjali Mudrā or Pranamasana is a hand gesture which is practiced throughout Asia. It is used as a sign of respect and a greeting in India and amongst yoga practitioners and adherents of similar traditions...
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The pose is typically held for 20 to 60 seconds to stretch the spine, returning to the mountain pose while exhaling, then repeating standing on the opposite leg.
Benefits
IyengarB.K.S. Iyengar
Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar , is the founder of Iyengar Yoga, although he himself would not call it Iyengar Yoga. He is considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world and has been practising and teaching yoga for more than 75 years...
claims the pose improves balance
Balance (ability)
In biomechanics, balance is an ability to maintain the center of gravity of a body within the base of support with minimal postural sway. When exercising the ability to balance, one is said to be balancing....
, poise
Poise
The poise is the unit of dynamic viscosity in the centimetre gram second system of units. It is named after Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille ....
and posture
Human position
Human positions refers to the different positions that the human body can take.There are several synonyms that refer to the human position, often used interchangeably, but having specific flavors....
. Hewitt claims it improves posture and concentration, limbers the hips, deepens the thorax
Thorax
The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...
, strengthens the ankles, and firms and tones the muscles of the legs, back and chest.