What more appropriate pose for the Holiday week than the Tree pose?

This pose brings balance,  focus, and calm.

Begin in standing (Mountain pose). Feel the earth beneath both feet evenly. Breathe in and out through the nose in long, smooth breaths. Shift your weight into the left leg. Make a firm foundation with this leg. There are several variation of Tree pose, choose the one you feel most balanced in.

1) toe touch the earth with the right foot. If you feel balanced here, try 2)bringing this foot to the inside of the left ankle. Then try 3)balancing with the foot on the inner left calf, and then try 4)on the inner left thigh.

At the same time begin to raise the arms first to shoulder height, then above the head, and finally in front of the heart in prayer position (anjali mudra). Find an object across the room to focus on. Hold the pose for as long as you are comfortable, continuing to breathe evenly throughout the pose. Feel the breath in your abdomen as you balance.

After coming out of Tree pose, pause in standing (Mountain pose) before repeating Tree pose on the other side.

Happy Holidays!