Tree Yoga · The original pose reference
Pistol Chair Pose
See this pose in the original book ↗From the original book
The practice.
If you thought the regular chair pose was tough, just wait until this one. Most people think pistol squats will forever remain an impossibility for them. However, this does not have to be the case. You can utilize the help of the tree to prime the nervous system and build the necessary strength to one day do the full expression of this pose — free of any support.
Like chair pose, begin facing away from the tree with your back against the trunk. The feet should be together as you bend the knees and lower the hips. Keeping the core engaged, begin to shift the weight onto one foot while extending the other leg out in front. Take a couple breaths on one side, then practice on the other. With Tree Yoga, you can do things you never thought you could.
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