It's known that anyone can have many reasons in life that cause stress and tension. This might come from work or studying for long hours. When we talk about reducing stress, doing exercise in general helps, but yoga is the best fit for stress relief. It doesn't need any equipment and you can do it anywhere. Yoga helps you focus and calms your mind.
When the body faces stress and pressure, it quickly releases stress hormones that cause changes like faster heartbeat, quick breathing, and higher blood pressure. This is to help the body deal with stress and tension, which is why you feel tired.
The following yoga poses will help you reduce stress and feel comfortable.
1- (Cat/Cow) pose
- Put your hands and knees on the floor so your palms are right under your shoulders and your knees right under your hips.
- Take a deep breath, then as you exhale, arch your spine up and drop your head toward the floor.
- Take another deep breath, then as you exhale, lift your head, chest, and lower back toward the ceiling and arch your spine down.
- Repeat the movement as you like until you feel comfortable.
2 - Position (Standing Forward Fold With Shoulder Stretch)
- Stand on the floor with feet a little apart and clasp your hands together behind your butt.
- Bend forward without bending your knees, move your chest toward your legs downwards but keep your lower back straight during the move, then let your arms follow your head and hold this pose for five deep breaths.
- If you can’t lock your hands behind you, you can hold a strap or towel from both ends instead. If you have lower back or knee problems, you should definitely bend your knees when bending forward.
3- Position (Seated Forward Fold)
- Sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front then bend your upper body forwards and hold your feet in the middle with your hands.
- Lower your chest towards your legs and try to keep your knees straight but if your hamstrings are very tight, bend your knees a little.
- Hold this position for five deep breaths and repeat as you like.
4- Shoulder Stand
- Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Then roll back so your whole body rests on your shoulders and your feet are behind your head.
- Slowly lift your legs up one at a time until they form a straight line with your back. Put your hands on your back to help balance and take some weight off your neck.
- Hold this pose for five deep breaths, then lower your feet behind your head again before returning to the starting position.
- If you’re new to this pose try it near a wall to support your legs. Stop if you feel any pain or discomfort in your neck.
5 - Happy Baby
- Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Then lift your feet off the ground and hold the outer edges of your feet with your hands.
- Gently pull your feet toward your chest and let your knees fall to the sides of your body toward the floor but make sure to keep your back flat on the ground.
- Stay in this position for five deep breaths.
6- Position (Savasana)
- Lie on your back and stretch your legs on the floor in front of you with your feet slightly apart then place your hands on the ground next to your body.
- Let your whole body relax and focus on slow, deep breathing. You can lie like this as long as you want or at least for five deep breaths.
