Tree Yoga · The original pose reference
Chest Stretch
See this pose in the original book ↗From the original book
The practice.
Having a strong chest is good, but having a tight chest is not. A lot of people have a tight front body and a weak back body. This results in the body collapsing in on itself. Do not allow this to happen. When the body collapses in on itself, you put yourself in fight-or-flight. Keep the front body open.
Begin an arm’s length away from the tree, with the side body facing the trunk. Plant the inside-hand on the tree, with the arm angled up 45 degrees. This angle provides the best stretch for the chest because it is the way the muscle fibers run in that area. Keep the hand planted on the tree as you gently turn away from the trunk. Maintain strong posture and take several deep breaths. Practice on both sides.
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