Then I pondered – Why not climb a tree?  And I recalled some of my very favourite times of reflection in my childhood happened above the rooftops in a tree.  So I watched them enjoy themselves and be there should they need me instead of curbing their curiosity and growth.

As I watched the big smiles on their faces and the ruffling of branches I remembered a lovely story from my youth called ‘The Giving Tree’ by Shel Silverstein, which is about a loving tree that tries to provide everything for a boy who she cares for from the day he played with her to the day where he grows old.  This book was one of my favourites as a child and was integral for me in learning the connection between nature and human beings.

As a child I think I was part monkey myself, which makes it no surprise that my son inherited that gene.  Perhaps all children are? I’m not sure as I have one child and when I was young my friends simply did not share this interest.  I was always up in a tree and loved the new perspective I would gain as I went higher, and higher, and higher!  A whole new outlook as I would sit in those trees and take time to reflect on whatever was on my mind.

In our current living situations, for most of us, we are often so distracted that we forget to stop and smell the roses, or climb a tree!  Now that I am an adult I have forgotten about all those precious quiet moments in the trees until now.  Going back to your childhood, what was it that you loved to do?  Is it possible to try it again at your current age?

Although I connect my passion for climbing trees to freedom of thought, I’m pretty certain that I may not climb a tree any day soon (unless there’s a bear in the vicinity), but there is there an alternative? Always! Maybe I’ll climb out of my sons window onto the lower roof to find that bird’s eye view of the world and ponder life, and possibly share those moments with my son. 

As we age our interests change of course, but an adult is just a taller version of what they were as a child.  Reconnect with a happy moment in your earlier life, even if you have to dig deep!  Afterall, it’s those experiences who make you who you are today.

Have a happy March everyone! 

Namaste,

Robin

Tadasana (tah-DAHS-anna)
- otherwise known as Mountain Pose is a posture that is the basic template for all standing poses.

        Level: All

      Benefits: Improves alignment and posture; strengthens thighs, knees and ankles; firms abdomen and buttocks; relieves sciatica; reduces flat feet; enhances body and breath awareness; grounding; centering; and balance.

      How to: Stand with the basis of your big toes touching, heels slightly apart.  Spread the toes nice and wide, rock back and forth on the feet and settle into a nice spot where your weight is evenly distributed in the center of your foot and shared between both feet.

Contract the thighs and tuck down the tailbone.  Arms are relaxed by your sides with shoulder blades reaching towards each other.  Lengthen the spine and the crown towards the sky.

      Variations: Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute/Tall Mountain) Interlock the fingers and raise arms overhead.  Consciously tuck the tailbone down to avoid overarching the lower back. In addition to the benefits of above this variation also stretches the belly, improves digestion, and stretches the shoulders & armpits.