Vrikshasana (tree pose)

Vrikshasana (tree pose)

To do this pose:

Come to a standing position at the front of your mat. Bring your hands into a prayer position then lift one up, knee towards your chest. Release one hand, grabbing onto the lifted ankle, and use your hand to help place your foot either on the side of your calf or your inner thigh, avoiding the knee. You can also place that foot next to the ankle and keep your toes on the floor if you’re having trouble with balance. From here, keep your hands in prayer, or start to reach your arms up over your head if your balance is steady. From there, you can keep your eyes open or close, but focus on pulling the crown of your head to the sky. 

How this pose is especially beneficial for nurses: 

• It strengthens the leg. The standing leg is now supporting your entire body weight in this pose so you may feel a little bit of fire start to light it up, even some shaking! This is a sign that your muscles are working, hard, and getting stronger. The stronger your legs are, the more you can run between those patients without getting tired! 
• It improves neuromuscular coordination and endurance. Practice really does make perfect with balance. The longer you try it, the better you’ll be, building up your endurance over time. So, after running between those patients, not only will your legs feel strong, you won’t feel tired or winded! 
• It promotes alertness! Since it is a balancing exercise, it requires more focus and more muscle activation than other poses. This alone helps to light up your mind again, so this is a great pose if you’re feeling sluggish or tired at all.