Tree Yoga School · Practice beside a tree
Slippery Elm · About five minutes
A close look, a gentle return.
Read once, then give your attention to the tree. Spend a few minutes, or less if that suits you.
Find a comfortable place.
Sit or stand on stable ground in a permitted place, keeping your usual supports. A bench, wheelchair, or accessible path is enough. Keep paths clear and let your breathing stay natural. There is no need to touch the tree.
Choose an easy view
Sit or stand on stable, permitted ground using your normal supports. Choose a patch of bark or an attached leaf you can see comfortably, clear of damaged branches.
Notice a texture visually
Follow one ridge, vein, or toothed edge with your eyes. Notice light and shadow across it. Leave the tree untouched and let your breath continue naturally.
Return without correcting yourself
When your attention wanders, notice where it went and come back gently. Treat each return as another look, without scoring your concentration.
Take gentleness into the day
Widen your view to the tree and its surroundings. Consider one ordinary task you could approach with less pressure. Choose a kinder pace or smaller step, then finish.
An optional five minutes
You can practice without a timer. Start it when you are ready to turn your attention to the tree.
5:00
Silent by default. Begin whenever you like.
Keep this page open for the closing sound. A locked screen or backgrounded browser may delay it; the time will catch up when you return.
When you are ready
What changed when you returned without judging the wandering?
Reflect quietly, or write a sentence in your own notebook. Let the visit be enough.