Tree Yoga · The original pose reference
Horizontal Lat Stretch
See this pose in the original bookFrom the original book
The practice.
Begin about a foot away from the tree. With either arm, reach for the outside of the trunk and grab it with your hand. Maintaining a strong grip and an elongated spine, start to shift the weight back as you bend the knees and drop the hips. Relax the other arm down by the side or place the hand directly on the hip. Breathe slowly as you gently move deeper into the stretch on exhalations. 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 lessonKeep exploring