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None of us lead a stress-free life these days. Everything has become so fast paced, and we humans are unable to catch up with the speed of the advancements in the making. In our quest to stay updated with everything and work efficiently while we’re at it too, we develop stress.
If this stress is left untreated, it takes a toll on us and transforms into anxiety. When you think you are stressed out or have developed anxiety, the first step you should take is going to a therapist. The therapist will evaluate your condition, and then prescribe a treatment plan or medicines as he sees fit.
Once you have been diagnosed by a licensed therapist, it only makes sense that you amplify the treatment process as best as you can. Yoga is one of the practices that can benefit you in this situation.
Yoga has been around for thousands of years now, and more and more research is coming out on how it is beneficial for our well-being. Scientists have already established that Yoga is excellent for your mental well-being. But there are certain poses you can make use of especially to relieve your stress and anxiety. Let us take a look at what those poses are:
Yoga Poses for Stress And Anxiety (Infographic)
Yoga Poses that can Help Reduce Anxiety and Stress
Child Pose
How to Perform:
For performing this pose, you will need to sit on a thick Yoga mat or a blanket to make sure your knees don’t get negatively impacted.
Keeping your knees joined together; stretch your arms upwards and then as forward as you can take them. At this point, your head should be closer to the ground or it should be touching it. How close your head is to the ground depends on how flexible you are.
Close your eyes and release the tension in your arms and other parts of your body. Imagine becoming one with the ground beneath you. Do not clench or tense up any part of your body. Take deep breaths with intervals of a few seconds and try to find peace within you.
Benefits:
The child pose helps in uniting the mind, body, and spirit while blanketing you with a sense of calm. It can also release the tension in your stomach and the rest of the digestive system which can happen as a result of anxiety.
Corpse Pose
How to Perform:
Undoubtedly, one of the most relaxing poses to perform and master is the corpse pose.
You have to lie down straight on your Yoga mat, with your arms by your sides and your palms facing the ceiling. Your legs and feet should be entirely tension free as well.
If you find that lying down flat like this is challenging for your back or your knees, you can use a cushion or a rolled-up towel to support you as well. Remember, the goal of this pose is to be completely relaxed.
Close our eyes and take deep breaths.
Benefits:
There are many benefits you can attribute to this pose because it helps you receive the ultimate level of relaxation that is possible. It helps to calm your mind and relieve anxiety. This pose is also great for getting rid of insomnia and exhaustion which form the basis for anxiety.
Legs up the Wall Pose
How to Perform:
Before starting this pose, place your Yoga mat against a straight wall. Lie down on the mat, curl to your side, and bring your buttocks to the wall. Straighten yourself and guide your legs upwards, straight on the wall.
Keep your arms to your sides with the palms facing upwards. Close your eyes and release all the tension in your body. Take deep and even breaths slowly and hold this pose for as long as you can.
Benefits:
When you work on clearing your mind in this pose, you might enter a state of meditation. In this state, you can actively work on bringing balance to your life and getting rid of the daily stress of life which in turn will help prevent anxiety.
Cat and Cow Pose
How to Perform:
For this pose, you need to get down on all fours first and release any tension in your body. Arch your back upwards and lower your gaze to the ground. Pull your shoulders apart from each other and press your palms down into the earth. Focus on your posture and release all other thoughts from your mind.
The cat pose is usually performed in conjunction with the cow pose, in which you have to press your shoulders towards each other, drop your back and your stomach, and lift your head and your gaze upwards. You do repetitions between the two movements, inhaling on the cow pose and exhaling on the cat pose for maximum effect.
Stay focused on the movement and do not let any other thought enter your mind.
Benefits:
Interchanging between the cat and the cow pose while synchronizing the movement with your breaths can sharply increase your coordination skills. It also helps to focus on the matters at hand while keeping your mind away from distractions. The movement can assist in keeping your emotions stable and under control. All of this works in relieving your anxiety and stress.
Easy Pose
How to Perform:
The easy pose is easy to perform, but the posture is imperative in this pose as well.
Sit on your Yoga mat with your legs stretched out in front of you. Cross your legs one at a time and place each foot beneath the opposite leg. Widen your knees as much as possible without tensing up. This pose is different from sitting cross-legged because your feet are not as close to your pelvis in this pose. Stay in a neutral position and place your palms on your knees.
Close your eyes and begin breathing deeply and calmly at regular intervals in between.
Benefits:
The easy pose helps in keeping you grounded physically and emotionally. Clearing your mind in this pose helps to find inner peace and happiness while warding off anxious thoughts altogether.
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Author Bio:
Carolina is a mother of two kids. She loves writing about the physical and mental behavior of the children and adults. Her passion for writing reflects every aspect of life including social issues and healthy lifestyle.