"Tree Pose ( Vrksasana) teaches the beginning student balance as well as the concentration necessary to achieve that balance. Tree Pose requires strength in the quadriceps (front thigh) muscle of the supporting leg as well as flexibility in the hip joint of the opposite leg. But the difficulty of the pose is chiefly in maintaining the elongation and stability of the vertebral column when one leg is raised. In normal standing, the vertebral column rests evenly on the superior surface of the sacrum."
"This outward stillness and inward dynamism means that the student's attention cannot waver. Learning not to waver is at the core of the philosophy of yoga. Learning not to waver in a posture is termed asana. Learning not to waver in the energy of the breath is termed pranayama. And learning to keep the mind from wavering is called meditation. Mircea Eliade, in Yoga, Immortality, and Freedom, calls yoga "the great refusal.""
Tree Pose develops balance and concentration while demanding quadriceps strength in the supporting leg and hip flexibility in the raised leg. Lifting one leg tends to tip the pelvis and bend the vertebral column laterally, so the practitioner must actively lengthen and stabilize the spine to maintain vertical alignment. The pose exemplifies outward stillness combined with inward dynamism, requiring sustained, undistracted attention. Mastery of steadiness in posture is termed asana; steadiness of breath is pranayama; steadiness of mind is meditation. The practice cultivates a physical refusal to move and a mental stillness that supports meditative states.
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