Honoring Memorial Day Through Our Yoga Practice, Practicing VrksasanaTree Pose and a Refreshing Spring Salad Recipe May 25 2025
- rockbriarfarm
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
I went back to some old blogs reading what I had written on prior Memorial Day Weekends. While the definition of Memorial Day is “a day on which those who died in active military service are remembered”, I believe that most of us feel that it is appropriate for us to honor any deceased person who served during their lifetime. When I first wrote about Memorial Day in 2022; I commented on how politicized everything had become and urged my readers to set politics aside, and express gratitude for all who have served valiantly and honestly; those who are living or those who have passed on. When I spend time and energy thinking about military service, my focus is on hope for world peace and the importance of strong peace keeping efforts. I focus on all of the good that can come from our country having well trained, supported, responsible and intelligent armed forces.
As we practice on Memorial day we can take the opportunity to pause and remember what we have to be grateful for. As we take this pause, we can send peace and thanks to those who are currently serving and their families. Perhaps we set our intentions for practice on giving thanks and hoping world peace.
I cannot celebrate Memorial Day without mentioning my father who we lost in 2017. I feel honored that many people say I look and act like him (including perhaps the volatile temperament and fresh mouth). We both loved to read (he was a literature professor), argue politics, cook, bike and garden. He was a self-proclaimed socialist who makes progressives of today like right wing conservatives. He (and my mom) joined marches for civil rights in the 60’s, protested the treatment of farm workers in the 70’s, protested nuclear weapons in the 70’s and 80’s and, was a proud Air Force veteran (served in Germany in the Korean Conflict). He was, in his younger days living in upstate NY, a card-carrying member of the NRA (he later disassociated). He taught us to shoot and clean rifles and about gun safety. He was human. He was proud of his service, his fellow serviceman and the experience his time gave him.
I salute my dad, my father-in-law (a deceased navy veteran) and all of my family and friends who have served.
Our Practice – Vrksasana Tree Pose
I tell this story often in our practice, it explains why tree pose almost always makes me smile. When I visited my parents in Florida, Dad would sometimes be sitting in his chair just off the lanai while I was practicing. He would tease (heckle) me in the colorful way that only he could and, while I was trying to be oh so meditative or yogic, I would just start to laugh so hard and fall over. When I do tree now and find myself tensing up or not finding my balance, I remember those moments, they always serves to straighten and strengthen my pose, and make me smile.
Tree pose is a hip opening pose as well as a balance. We usually warm up with some other hip openers to prepare (figure four, lizard, knee to sky in down dog) and come to tree pose as a “peak” pose.
Tree pose helps strengthen our core and legs and stretches our groin and opens our hips. Building balance is important especially as we age; balance, along with a strong core, will help keep us active and healthy for a long time!
Start in mountain pose (tadasana), hands at heart center. Check in with your alignment head to feet, and that your feet are rooted into the floor evenly through all four corners.
Begin to shift your weight into your right foot, lifting your left foot off the floor. Keep your right leg straight but don't lock the knee.
Bend your left knee and bring the sole of your left foot high onto your ankle, calf or inner right thigh. If on the ankle, you can keep your toes on the floor, hip is open to the side.
Press your foot into your leg and your leg into the thigh, engage your core, focus on your drishti (focus point that is not moving).
Take 5-10 breaths, adding your arms (branches). Remember, most important to maintain humor, smile and breathe.
Don’t forget the other side.
This blog post in Lotus Yogis By Jackie made me smile with all of the variations and ways to try tree pose.
Meditation – Honoring A Hero
"A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom." – Bob Dylan
"Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay." – Barack Obama
Nurturing with Food – Spring Salad
I love good salads. When spring and summer come it always makes it easier and more delicious for me to enjoy my favorite food. We have started enjoying arugula from our garden already, I could eat that every day. Below is a recipe that I have shared many times for a spring inspired salad; its key ingredients are the earliest of spring vegetables.
See you on the mat
Namaste
Julia Anne
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