5 Yoga Poses To Help-Reduce-Stress-And-Tension Wine, cookies, ice-cream, magnesium, rescue remedy, crystals… Does anyone else have experience looking for external solutions to stress in every possible place imaginable? Thankfully, for both my sanity and my bank balance, I found yoga about 10 years ago and along with it, a stress management tool like no other. Yoga works to relieve tension and reduce stress in both the body and the mind, and it can make you more resilient when those recurring stress triggers pop up. Yoga in general seems to have a calming influence though there are certain poses that have a super awesome ability to help us let go. Check these out. 1. Garudasana (Eagle Pose) garudasana This pose requires you to concentrate and focus the mind to a single point, which is an excellent stress management tool. It can also help to free up tightness in the shoulders and hips, which are common spots for emotional tension to accumulate. Steps From Tadasana, take feet hip-width apart and the arms wide. Bring the right arm over the left. Bend the elbows and bring the palms together. If that’s too strong, back of the hands touch. Shift the weight to the four corners of the right foot and bend the knees a little. Lift the left thigh up and over the right thigh. If your knees are okay and you can hook the toes behind the right calf, do so, otherwise leave the foot where it is (anatomically not everyone can do this, so please don’t force it). Engage the core and start to sink the hips down while maintaining length in the spine. Keep your gaze firmly on your focal point and make sure the breath flows effortlessly. To come out, slowly begin to unwind and return to Tadasana and then repeat on the other side. Stress Less Tip: You need to fix your gaze on something, so how about placing an object that soothes or uplifts your spirits out in front of your mat to use as your drishti (focal point). 2. Uttanasana (Standing Forward Fold) uttanasana Uttanasana can help to quiet a busy mind and balance the nervous system which can promote feelings of calm and peace. Energetically, it works to balance the sacral chakra which when over stimulated, can contribute to fluctuating and excessive emotional energy. Steps From Tadasana, bend the knees slightly engage the core and hinge forward from the hips placing the hands in front of or alongside your feet. Shift the weight onto the balls of your feet and feel the sit bones lifting up towards the ceiling. If you have tightness in the hamstrings, you can keep the knees bent to protect the lower back. Otherwise, start to lengthen through the backs of the legs while keeping the weight in the balls of the feet. Take hold of each elbow with the opposite hand and soften around the eyes, jaw, neck, head and mind. You can hold for a few breaths, or longer if you feel comfortable. If you have low blood pressure, take your time coming out of the pose. Stress Less Tip: Imagine that your worries/concerns are literally melting away from the top of your head, being absorbed by the ground beneath you. **Uttanasana is contraindicative for back pain, hamstring injuries, glaucoma and high blood pressure. A common side affect of stress is blood pressure issues, so chat to your doctor first or skip this pose altogether if you have any concerns. 3. Balasana (Child’s Pose) balasana Steps From hands and knees, take the sit bones back over the heels and your hands out in front of you and slowly fold your torso forward until your eyebrow centre rests on the mat. Your big toes will be touching, and you can either have the knees together or you can separate the knees wider than your hips. Arms are traditionally resting back alongside the body palms up, but you can stack your hands/forearms and rest your head there if that’s preferable. If your hips/butt is not touching the heels then you can place a cushion in between so you can let go and relax. Stay for at least 10 breaths and let go as much as you can which every exhale. Why it’s awesome: When we’re frazzled all the time we tend to put a ton of pressure on the adrenal glands which can lead us towards burn out (and that’s not awesome, trust me). Child’s Pose is one of the most soothing poses for the adrenals so practicing this pose regularly can be like a giant hug, bubble bath and bowl of soup all in one package! Stress Less Tip: Visualise a soothing colour at the eyebrow centre, I suggest blue, lilac or gold. Feel as if that colour is flowing in and out with each breath soothing and calming your mind more each time. 4. Vajrasana Variation (Thunderbolt Pose Variation) Vajrasana Variation This pose has an incredibly calming affect on the mind and body. Vajrasana is also a great pose for the digestive system so if you have a tendency to carry your tension/stress there this one should help. Steps From kneeling sit back on the heels. You can place a cushion between the sit bones and the feet if that’s more comfortable Maintain length in the spine, feeling the crown draw up towards the ceiling. Cross the hands in front of the chest and cup the palms at the underarms. Thumbs point out in front (see pic). Connect with your breath and notice how quickly the mind begins to slow and calm down. Stay for at least 10 breaths and feel as though you are releasing tension and stress with every exhalation. Take cross legs if you are not comfortable sitting on your knees for this long. Stress Less Tip: Try this just before you go to bed at night and you may enjoy a more restful sleep. 5. Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclined Bound Angle Pose) Supta Baddha Konasana You just feel like you’re taking a mini vacation in this pose! It can help you open through the hips, inner thighs and groin, all places where we can hold stress and tension. With the support of the floor beneath you, you can surrender to the moment and practice the art of letting go. Steps Lie down on your back in Savasana and take the soles of the feet together, knees out to the side. If one or both of your knees are quite far from the floor, you can use yoga blocks, bolsters or folded blankets underneath them to make the pose more restorative. Options for the arms, you can take them up overhead and take each elbow with opposite hands, or they can be resting on the floor alongside your torso. My favourite version is to put one hand on the heart centre and one hand on the belly, creating a soothing connection within yourself. Stay for a period of time that feels comfortable and when you’re ready to come out, move slowly. Stress Less Tip: This is a great opportunity to reinforce a positive, calming message to yourself. With every inhale and exhale, repeat the words I am calm and relaxed, or I let go. What poses are your favourites for reducing stress and tension? Www.murfest
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:25:45 +0000
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