Vrikshasana, the tree

Amidst a peaceful natural setting, a person stands in the tree pose, Vrikshasana, a picture of balance and inner peace. One leg is firmly rooted to the ground, while the other rests gracefully on the inside of the standing leg, the foot gently positioned above the knee. The hands are folded in front of the chest in Namaste or stretched powerfully above the head, the fingers pointing skyward like the tips of a tree.

The posture exudes stability and elegance, as if the person is one with the environment. The spine is straight, the face is relaxed, the eyes are closed or gently focused on a point in the distance. The breath flows evenly, in sync with the silence of nature.

Behind the person stretches a wide panorama: rolling hills, a quiet lake or perhaps a dense forest flooded with sunlight. The feeling of harmony between body, mind and environment is palpable - a moment of complete unity and serenity.