Yoga is a form of exercise that has a lot of purposes. Not only is it great for increasing your strength and balance, but it is also excellent for relieving stress.
Everyone gets stressed out from their day to day lives, but not everyone knows an effective way to deal with it. Studies have shown that Yoga is one of the ways to effectively reduce your stress levels.
Yoga uses techniques such as stretching. Relaxing, and meditation to relieve stress. Here are some of the different types of poses you can try to keep you feeling refreshed and stress-free.
Stretching Yoga Poses
Here are some easy poses that use stretching to help relax you.
- Chair Lower Back Stretch
For this pose you sit in a chair and keep your legs widened. Bend over, from the hips, letting your body relax. Your head should be dropped down and you neck should be relaxed as well. You can stay in this position for as long as you like, breathing deeply and allowing yourself to settle.
- Right Angle Pose
This little pose has you standing facing a wall, hands on the wall waist high. Walk backwards until you are bent over perpendicular to the wall. Push against the wall with your body as if you were trying to knock the wall down. Hold this pose for around 30 minutes.
- Cross- Legged Lower Back Stretch
For this pose sit on the floor facing a wall, with your legs crossed. Place your hands on the wall above your head and start walking them up the wall. When you think you cannot go any further up, take a break and then try moving your hands up farther on the wall without removing them from the wall.
Relaxation Yoga Poses
These are poses that use relaxation to help relieve your stress and tension.
- Knees to Chest
This pose is a pretty easy one. You simply lie down on your back and hug your knees to your chest. Breathe in deeply. Each time you breathe in, allow your back to relax.
- Supported Chest Opener
This pose is really relaxing. Take a rolled up towel or a pillow and place it on the floor. Lie down on the floor with the pillow or towel under your back, just below your arms. Relax with your eyes closed; you can stay in this position for as long as it is comfortable.
- Chair Corpse Pose
Lay on the floor with your buttocks against the legs of a chair and your legs bent over the seat of it. Relax and breathe deeply. This is another pose you can stay in as long as it relaxes you.
Meditation Poses
Mediation poses are great for relieving stress; they allow you to relax and reflect on your day and get centered.
- Full Lotus Pose
Sit down on the floor with your legs crossed. Take your left foot and bring it up onto your right thigh as high as you can. Bring your right foot onto your left thigh as high as you can.
- Half Lotus Pose
This pose is similar to the full lotus pose. The difference is that you only bring your left foot up high onto your right thigh. The right foot stays where it is.
Instead of letting stress get the best of you, try doing something about it. Give Yoga a chance and you may find that not only is it fun but it also makes you feel a lot better about yourself and the world. Even if you do not use all the poses, trying at least one or two of them will really help.
However if there is ever too much discomfort, do not continue trying those poses.
