YOGA POSES TO EASE STRESS DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON
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Everyone deserves some downtime this holiday, yes, including you. We all could use a little more relaxation in our lives, whether it's because we've been experiencing stress at work, family conflict drama, or just general tension. But it's much easier said than done to unwind. Many people find it challenging to truly slow down and rest due to the stressors of modern life, including your to-do list that never seems to end. Fortunately, yoga poses for relaxation can help by reducing your tension and increasing your sense of comfort.
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility
Yoga can mean more energy and brighter moods.
Yoga is good for the heart.
Yoga promotes better self care
Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility.
6 Yoga Poses to help with relaxation
Easy Pose
How to:
Place your mat down. Bend your knees, widen them, and cross your shins. Slip each foot beneath the opposing knee, bringing the shins toward your torso. However, alternate the crossing of the legs so that the left and right legs have equal time on top, and hold for 10-20 breaths. Readmore
Child's Pose
How To:
Kneel on the floor. Sit on your heels and touch your big toes together, then separate your knees about as wide as your hips, walk your hands out toward the front of your mat. To come up, first lengthen the front torso, then lift from the tailbone as it presses down and into the pelvis with an inhalation. Readmore
Downward Dog
How to:
Begin on all fours, keeping your knees slightly behind your hips. Your hands should be shoulder-width apart, with your fingers spread wide. Take a deep inhale, then exhale deeply, lifting your knees off the floor and straightening your legs as much as you can while pressing your hands into the mat and gently tucking your toes under. Take 10-15 inhale and exhale
Garland Pose
How to
Squat as close to your heels as possible. Allow your thighs to be slightly wider than your torso. Exhale and lean forward, fitting it snugly between your thighs. Hold 10-20 breaths and stand back up.For further instructions on Garland Pose
Cat and Cow Pose
How to:
Begin in table pose on your hands and knees with a neutral spine. Lift your sit bones upward, press your chest forward, and allow your belly to sink as you inhale and move into cow pose.
Raise your head, relax your shoulders away from your ears, and look ahead.
Come into cat pose as you exhale, rounding your spine outward, tucking your tailbone in, and drawing your pubic bone forward.
Forward Fold
How to:
Begin with Mountain Pose and your hands on your hips. As you raise your arms, exhale.
Exhale by engaging your thighs, drawing the belly in and up deep from the pelvic floor, and bending forward, hinged from the hips.
Top Tips
- Stay safe with no injuries: There are no shortcuts with this tip. Always be aware of your boundaries, and especially of your body's vulnerable areas. Knees, hips, spine, and neck are particularly vulnerable. If you experience any pain, adjust, soften, and exit the pose if necessary. Don't push or force anything.
- Breathe: Yoga is all about finding a healthier, deeper harmony between our body and mind, and breathing is an important part of that. Relax and breathe into your entire body as you move through the poses. In yoga, there is a lot to learn about healthy breathing.
- Don’t Compare Yourself With Others:Consider your own progress; there will always be people with more experience than you. Yoga is popular, but it is not a spectator sport or a competition. Appreciate your own subtle progress; the best part is on the inside, in the healing awareness and unity of your own body, mind, and spirit.
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Wear Loose Comfortable Clothing (That Stays On): You will be stretching your body in all directions, so avoid wearing anything that will dig in or restrict your movement.