The Tree pose in Wii Fit Yoga can be a tricky pose for newcomers, but is excellent for improving your balance.

The Tree requires that you do two things at the same time, balance on one leg, while keeping the other leg in place. This isn't easy, so here are a few tips.

Don't rush it
If you are having problems, just simplify the pose. Start off by holding your spare leg in place while balancing. Then progress to holding your hands at your chest. When you are comfortable with that, then progress to the full pose with your arms over your head. Concentrate on getting each stage right before moving on.

Keep your foot flat
It is easy to find your foot tensing up and curling. When this happens you will find it harder to balance. Relax your foot and press it flat to maximise the area in contact with the ground.

Make sure your leg is strong
The muscles in your balancing leg should be firm and taught, not bent. This helps your balance and provides a firmer surface to push your other foot into.

Keep your leg in place
Keep the spare leg in line with your body, and your foot pressed firmly into your balancing leg.

Look straight ahead
The temptation is to look at the TV, but you may find that this affects your balance. You should position the balance board away from the TV so you can see it clearly without peering down or around.

Use your imagination
Imagine that you are being pulled up through your spine, first from the top of your head, and then from your hands. You should be nice and straight, with your bum tucked in, and your folded leg in line with your body.

Relax and smile
Sounds easy If you are very tense, you will find balancing much harder. If you can't smile, then you are not relaxed enough.

After all that, you should have mastered The Tree in no time.

You should not hyper extend your standing leg, just slightly bent in order not to hurt your knee! This is very important for doing tree pose! As for the bending leg, just place it slightly up above your kneecap or slightly down below your kneecap, as placing it at kneecap area will hurt your knee cap for long run! Make sure you are practicing Safe Yoga!! Namaste!

Yogi wrote:You should not hyper extend your standing leg, just slightly bent in order not to hurt your knee! This is very important for doing tree pose! As for the bending leg, just place it slightly up above your kneecap or slightly down below your kneecap, as placing it at kneecap area will hurt your knee cap for long run! Make sure you are practicing Safe Yoga!! Namaste!

Hi there and welcome. Thanks for the correction, my wording wasn't very clear on that. Yes, you don't want to over tension the standing leg, although I was always taught to keep it quite straight, and tend to find that an overly bend leg is much less stable.

That's also a good bit of advice about keeping the foot of the bent leg away from the kneecap. I keep mine as high as I can, as I tend to find the foot slots in nicely at the top of my other leg. Do you have any tips for keeping the bent leg in place? I've known people to use a strap around the ankle to help support it.

I also used to have the temptation of looking down at the TV. I have since hung a "focal point" in my entertainment system above the TV so I am not looking down or up, but focusing straight ahead on the focal point (I hung a favorite necklace so I can focus on that). Now I have great form and balance in The Tree and even The Dance poses!

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I tried this for the first time today, (I only got my Wii fit plus on Tuesday). I wobbled all over the place ! I think it's much harder because you're also balancing on the board as well as one leg ! I had to keep my arms down, I also find my foot slides down my leg so won't stay in place unless I hold my foot ! I do it barefoot. I will persevere with it though ! as I now realise that Wii fit will hopefully improve my posture and balance (which I thought were okay until now !) as well as my fitness and hopefully lose a few pounds.

Hiya.

I used to have a real problem with the tree as well, so I know how you feel

It takes time to develop you sense of balance, and for your legs stronger.

The best approach is to have a chair by the side of you and hold onto the back to steady yourself. And holding your leg in place is also absolutely fine.

With all yoga, only do what you are comfortable with, and there is no shame in holding onto something. Different people tend to be good at different poses, and it can take a lot of practice to master some of them, so don't give up. I'm quite bendy in some directions but not others.

Over time you'll get better and be able to do more and more, and then you can let go

LOVE the "TREE"!