by Stephanie F. Earls
Fall in New England is invariably linked to the changes in the trees. This week I sat under my favorite tree, an old elm. The sky, rich blue was cloudless and the yellow leaves were rimmed with red. Looking up from my spot laying under the tree I saw the trunk and branches so strong and steady while the leaves though vibrant in color were audibly less lively, dry and crisper than they'd been all summer when they were supple and water soaked.
The contrast between the leaves against the sky from summer to autumn showed the changing life of the outer tree and at the same time, the trunk and branches stood as strong as always. Its center was steady. The most superficial level has turned to leaf, to leave... but the trunk remains strong and steady, holding against the wind and rain and sun.
We can be like trees, letting our outer most self reach for growth and share, working with the outside to collect nutrients for us to grow and sharing our fruits. Nourishing us like sun might be books or friends or food. Whatever it is, we reach out and gather what we need, drawing it down into our center to nourish us, helping us set our roots a little deeper into our ground. And then with the changing seasons of our lives we inevitably feel the changes to our outer layer. We let what we have gathered transform us from the inside, and share it, then, letting go either when the time is right or the wind blows too hard, either way, letting go while being centered and rooted.
Trees are a beautiful and perfect metaphor for our bodies and our lives and keeping our center through it all. In yoga how perfect that tree is a balance posture that builds strength in our center and our foundation, a pose we can use to level and ground ourselves, while simultaneously reaching a growing. With a gentle approach we can welcome the sway of our tree, remembering that the beauty and strength of a tree is in its ability to weather change. The flexible and centered tree withstands because it has taken in strength and rooted into the earth. It is not so rigid that it bends and breaks, nor is it so flexible that it can not stand tall in the face of nature.
Practicing Tree:
If you are new to balancing postures, use the support of a wall or chair.
From mountain/tadasana, standing balanced on both feet, take a few long, slow, deep breaths. Find a point to gaze at on the floor or the wall across from you. When balancing a steady gaze and steady breath both help you find a steady stance.
Begin to shift your weight to the right foot so that the left foot becomes light even though it is still on the floor, and the right foot becomes more connected to the ground. Imagine you are growing tree roots out from the bottom of your right foot. Sometimes it is helpful to imagine that your foot has four corners and each corner is buttoned down and roots are growing, thick and rich from the bottom of your foot, into the earth.
Feel for your navel pulling in toward your spine.
As you feel balanced begin to come to the toes of the left foot and turn the left knee out, open so that the instep of your left foot can come to your ankle, lower leg or upper thigh. Take time here to find the spot on your right leg that best suits your tree today. Remember you are new today so the best you can, let go of any idea of what your tree was like yesterday or might be like next week. Just go with today.
Once you find a comfortable spot for your left foot (avoid putting the foot on the knee) imagine pressing the inner left foot and the right leg together. Pull in your navel center, imagining the navel moving toward the spine. If you are feeling balanced you can bring hands to heart center in "prayer", anjali mudra. Balance the pressure between your hands. Breathe here.
You can also raise and open your arms like branches of a tree, reaching and gathering in what you need. Breathe into your heart. Connect with a feeling of being grounded and steady in your lower body while being light and growing through your upper body. When you are grounded, you can grow.
Have fun! Play with the idea of being a tree just like you would if you were 8 years old. And if you sway, remember all strong trees sway in the wind. If you stumble and lose your balance remember this is the way you learn where you center is. Be kind to yourself.
Coming out of tree, gently let the left foot come back to the earth and shake out the right leg. As you're ready begin again on the other side.
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