In yoga, there is a pose called “vriksasana” or “tree pose.” I am not an avid yoga student, but I do try my best and I feel that it is beneficial to my body and mind. But that tree pose. Oh, that tree pose. That pose which seems so simple and is so very, very difficult--at least for me--has always been outside of my grasp.
Until today. I went
to one of my secret spots and found this old tree standing in a natural “tree
pose.” And, really, how else should a
tree stand? Suddenly it made a lot more
sense to me. The tree pose is all about
balance, focus, posture, poise, memory, and concentration, and if you practice
it regularly, you will gain strength in these areas. I am a clumsy yoga student, at best, so
finding this tree was a real boon to me.
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| Vriksasana - The tree pose. |
There it was, standing still and proud against the gray sky,
its needles reaching upward and outward in perfect balance. It had found its “drishte” (a small, unmoving
point just ahead) to gaze upon in order to help with its concentration and
balance, and there it stood: graceful,
peaceful, determined. The wind, the
weather, and the birds never broke its concentration and poise, no matter how
they tried. And they tried.
I believe that nature constantly gives us clues about how to
live our lives better, if we will only stop and listen. My focus lately has been on too many episodes
from my past, things that cannot be changed but continue to drain me of
energy. My balance and poise have been off
because of this. My memory and
concentration have been taxed and strained.
It’s no wonder “tree pose” has been so difficult for me.
There are special golden lockets I keep locked away in my
heart. Each one contains a perfect
photo, a poem, a lock of hair, and a tiny piece of my soul. They are ornate and carved with great skill. They are beautiful to look upon. They are precious to me. But they are locked away for a reason, and
that is where they must stay: locked in
the shimmering underworld of my heart.
Onward, then. Stand
tall. Find your “drishte.” Let your arms reach to the heavens. Find once again your balance, strength, and
poise. Be proud. Let nothing deter you from your expression.
