Urdhva Vrikshasana Urdhva Vrikshasana Urdhva Vrikshasana (; ; IAST: "Ūrdhva Vṛkṣāsana") or Upward Tree Pose is a standing asana in hatha yoga. In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga it is the first asana of Surya Namaskar. In some schools of yoga it is called Tadasana or Urdhva Hastasana (IAST: "Ūrdhva Hāstāsana"; ; ), "Upward Hands Pose". This compound noun phrase comes from Sanskrit: "ūrdhva", "up, upwards"; वृक्ष "vṛkṣa", "tree"; and आसन "Āsana" "posture" or "seat". This asana or variations of it may also be called Ūrdhva Hāstāsana. From Sanskrit: ऊर्ध्व "ūrdhva", "upwards"; हास्त, "hāsta", "formed with the hands"; asana as before. This asana may
Ashtanga vinyasa yoga classes in similar style, offering posture variations, and teaching Ashtanga in a much less linear style, with a greater emphasis on alignment and breathing. Sharath's "new generation" of young students have adopted Sharath's new rules, and teach in a linear style without variations. According to the Sharath generation, variations are not allowed, and practice must be in a strict Mysore environment under the guidance of a Sharath-approved teacher. How-to videos & workshops, detailed alignment instructions, and strength-building exercises are not part of the method, neither for the practitioner or the teacher. These types of instruction are not approved by Sharath,