The Best Yoga Poses for Stress Relief

We’re living in an increasingly complex world in which our lives are busier than ever and our obligations are often overwhelming. It seems like we're always trying to either just keep up, or worse, catch up.

The problem is that while we’re playing keep-up and catch-up, we experience a fair amount of stress due to external factors like long daily schedules, to-do lists, and general busyness.

To reduce stress, it’s vitally important to schedule some relaxation or down time. Or better yet, do yoga! Below are some of the best yoga poses to reduce stress. 

Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhan Pranayam)

Alternate nostril breathing helps to relax your body and mind, reduce anxiety, and promote overall well-being

To practice alternate nostril breathing:

• Sit in a comfortable position with your legs crossed. You can sit on a yoga or meditation cushion for added comfort.
• Place your left hand on your left knee and leave it there.
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose with your thumb on the right side of your nose.
• Exhale completely and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril.
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your fingers.
• Open the right nostril and exhale through this side.
• Inhale through the right nostril and then close this nostril.
• Open the left nostril and exhale through the left side.
• That completes one cycle.
• Continue for up to 5 minutes.

Knees to chest post (Apanasana)

The knees to chest pose helps to reduce excessive anger, excitement, anxiety and high blood pressure.

To practice the knees to chest pose:

• Start lying on your back with your spine in a neutral position.
• Bend your right knee toward your chest. Interlace your fingers on the shin just below the knee.
• Straighten your left leg and flex your left foot back towards your knee.
• Hug the right knee toward the armpit (or towards the centre of your chest).
• Relax your neck and shoulders. Use your biceps to pull instead.
• Feel your shoulders draw away from your ears and widen across the front of your chest.
• Feel your lower back pressing into the earth. Create space between each and every vertebra on the back side of your lower spine.
• Keep all the muscles of the extended leg and foot active and engaged. Relax the foot of your bent leg.
• Release your hands and bring them to the sides of your body. Straighten the bent leg to fully release the pose.

Corpse Pose (Shavasana)

The corpse pose relaxes and calms the body, relieves stress and anxiety, and reduces blood pressure.

To practice the corpse pose:

• Lie flat on the floor on a yoga mat.
• Close your eyes.
• Place your legs comfortably apart, with toes facing out.
• Placed your arms along your body and slightly apart, with your palms open and facing upwards.
• Breathe slowly, yet deeply. This will impart complete relaxation. Let go and surrender, but make sure you don’t doze off. Do this for 10-12 minutes.

Yoga Chair

An excellent alternative to doing your yoga poses on a mat is to use a yoga chair. A yoga chair is perfect for relaxing or stretching, and is also an attractive piece of furniture. Yoga chairs are super comfortable and can be used by people of all ages. It is highly recommended that you purchase your yoga chair only from trusted and reputable furniture shops.

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