Top 5 Yoga Poses For Stress Relief

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Importance of yoga poses for stress relief

Like most of us, you spend your days working tirelessly, only to find yourself not having the time to do the activities that make you happy. Naturally, this leads to an accumulation of stress that makes us tense, agitated, and annoyed. Sometimes you feel like you just want to go to a secluded place with no people around and scream at the top of your lungs to relieve some of the tension you’re feeling. Although this may feel cathartic, to save you some time (and your vocal cords, for that matter), we suggest that you try out some of these yoga poses that will surely make a difference and provide stress relief, most of which can be done in the comfort of your own home.

Yoga and meditation are proven to be quite effective in relieving stress. While some people may feel skeptical about them, once they start practicing and experience the benefits, they rarely want to stop. Additionally, the best thing about these restorative practices is that you don’t need to dedicate a special time and place to do them. Certain yoga poses for stress relief can be done in your office, and just 5 minutes of practicing can make a significant change. Meditation, on the other hand, can be done practically everywhere – you only need to learn how to center yourself, disregarding your surroundings.

While we’ll leave meditation for some other time, today, we’re focusing on yoga to relieve stress. Through stretches, controlled breathing, and a focused mind state, most of the symptoms that come with stress can fade away in a matter of minutes. Most importantly, the postures we will be showing today are suitable for all levels, so even if you’re a beginner, you won’t have any trouble doing them. Without stringing you along for too long, here are some easy yoga poses for stress relief at home.

1. Reclined Butterfly Pose (with a bolster)

If you’re working at a desk, you’ll usually feel tightness around the chest and back, which may cause chronic pain if not treated on time. Additionally, your shoulders may be slouched, so this, too, can affect your posture.

One of the best yoga poses for stress relief is the Reclined Butterfly since you’re fully stretching out your chest. On top of that, this is the optimum posture for allowing your breath to circulate fully through your entire body, further clearing your mind and releasing tension from your torso.

All you need to do is lie on a bolster or a couple of firm blankets stacked together (a couch seat might work as well) and put the edge of the bolster on your lower back. Toch your feet together while opening up your hips, making a diamond formation. Next, fully spread your arms with the palms facing the ceiling while releasing your shoulders and making the elbows feel heavy. Once in position, take deep breaths and clear your mind; stay like this until you feel like you’re completely at ease.

2. Child’s Pose

Child’s Pose is one of the most basic postures in yoga; however, it has proven to be the most effective one. It’s extremely easy to do and can be done in all kinds of settings – even in your office! This relaxing yoga posture releases back, shoulders, and neck tension and doesn’t strain your body.

To do the Child’s Pose, place your knees on the floor and touch the heels of your feet with your bottom. Then, extend your arms in front of you as much as possible without feeling any strain while heavily focusing on your breath. Do this yoga pose for stress relief as much as you want to, and you can finish off with a few shoulder rolls to feel fully relaxed.

3. Cat-Cow Pose

In addition to Child’s Pose, Cat-Cow is one of the simplest stress-reducing yoga poses. You’ll see that it’s even used in some exercising regimes, as it greatly relieves any pain in the lower back area. Additionally, this pose is excellent for increasing flexibility since it focuses mainly on spine extension.

Start with your hands and knees on the floor, with your wrists lined up directly under your shoulders while your legs are hip-width apart. As you inhale, relax your shoulders and place your gaze forward. To move into Cat Pose, draw your stomach toward your spine and round your back. Do this a couple of times until your back muscles feel tension-free.

4. Standing Forward Bend

If you’re leading a sedentary lifestyle, you must implement a lot of movement, especially exercises stretching and toning the legs. Standing Forward Bend is the ultimate yoga pose for stress relief as it extends your hamstrings and calms your mind at the same time.

Stand straight on your mat and exhale deeply. Then, bend the knees enough to be able to put your palms on your ground without putting any strain on the back of your legs. Hold this pose for at least 6 breaths and return in a straight-standing position. For an even deeper stretch, try straightening your knees – though this is a bit more advanced.

5. Legs Up The Wall

While most of these stress management yoga poses are centered around people who sit all day long, we haven’t forgotten about those who do the opposite. Your tired legs deserve a rest – and a good stretch! Moreover, this is a great posture to do before bed, as its relaxing benefits are second to none.

Simply place your legs on the wall, coming into a 90-degree angle. Although it may look easy, be careful not to push anything too hard. If you feel discomfort in your lower back, move a few inches off the wall.

These yoga poses for stress relief are incredibly effective, so go ahead and try them yourself! In a short time, your body and mind will feel more at ease, ready to take on any challenges that come your way. For more information on yoga for mind relaxation and other health and mindfulness-related topics, read the rest of our blogs.

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