Tree Yoga · The original pose reference
Balancing Revolved Half Moon Pose
See this pose in the original book ↗From the original book
The practice.
Again, this is an extremely challenging pose. I was not able to do this pose myself until I enlisted the help of the trees. This is one of the hardest balancing postures in Yoga, and very few people even attempt to practice. However, with Tree Yoga, you can easily get yourself into it, and you can prime the nervous system for greater balance and stronger stability.
Begin an arm’s length away from the tree, then step back an additional 1 or 2 feet. You want to be facing the tree, with the toes towards the trunk. Root down through one foot and place the opposite-side hand on the tree. Extend the other leg back. Keeping the core engaged and the spine long, twist open towards the planted leg. Reach up through the fingertips for maximum length. Press the other hand into the tree, and also press back through the heel of the lifted leg. Practice for a couple of breaths on each side.
Original book text by Alex Julian. Line wrapping and page breaks have been normalized for reading on the web. Personal accounts and energetic interpretations remain part of the original text.
Make the practice fit you.
This is a reference entry, not a required step in a beginner course. Use a comfortable range, keep breathing naturally, and stop if a movement hurts. Inversions and suspended exercises need appropriate instruction and equipment; a tree is not a certified anchor.
Explore the gentle introductory lesson →Keep exploring