According to yoga, it is a calm and well-nourished mind which leads to a healthy body. That's why, the various yoga poses are performed to balance the mind and body of a person. One of such poses which provides all the yoga health benefits is the tree pose. Let us know how to perform this pose as well as what are its benefits. Tips on How to do the Tree Pose Step 1 Stand straight on the ground. Your feet should be joined. Arms should be straight and should fall on the sides. However, do not keep the body uptight. Step 2 Shift your body's weight onto the left foot, as you prepare to lift your right foot off the ground. Step 3 Lift your right foot from the ground. Bend your knee and place the sole of the right foot on your inner left thigh. You may hold your ankle with your hand and keep the foot on the thigh. Step 4 Keep your right foot pressed into the insides of your left thigh and side by side, stretch your body upwards. At this point, focus on a single, stationary point in front of you, as it will help you maintain your balance. Step 5 Bring both your hands in front of your chest and join the palms in a "Namaste" or prayer position. Now, slowly raise your arms in the same position above your head. If you are doing it correctly, your elbows should be on the sides and the joined palms over your head. Step 6 Stretch your body as much as you can, while keeping the left foot firmly pressed on the ground and the right one pressed into the thigh. You should feel the stretch in all your body parts, including your legs, hips, back, chest, arms, hands and fingers. Hold on in this position for about half a minute. You may stretch it to a minute at a later stage. Keep the breathing normal. Step 7 Lower your arms as well as your right leg and come back in the original position as mentioned in step 1. Repeat the same beginner yoga pose on the other leg. Some Precautions : Initially, if you are not able to do this pose correctly, try to balance yourself with a wall. Also, if you are finding it too difficult to get your foot to the inside of your thigh, you can place it a bit lower. However, do not keep it on the knee or it may cause an injury. When it comes to doing yoga, the key lies in not attempting something your body is yet not ready for. Take things slowly, practice daily and automatically you will learn how to do the poses correctly. Benefits Like all standing yoga poses, tree pose too, has numerous benefits.

• Tree yoga pose contributes to increasing the flexibility of the legs, hips, knees and groin.
• This basic yoga pose improves the balance and stability of the body. It also strengthens the feet and the legs.
• If practiced regularly, it improves mental concentration and focus of a person.
• As the tree pose stretches the spine and the hips, it is one of the effective yoga poses for back pain.
• This pose is beneficial for people suffering from health problems and conditions such as flat feet, sciatica, arthritis, rheumatism and circulatory problems.

As you can see, there are numerous benefits of tree pose for the body. However, those people who suffer from hip or knee problems, should never perform this yoga pose without consulting a trained yoga practitioner. In fact, to derive maximum physical and mental benefits out of yoga exercises and poses, they should always be learned from an expert.