Yoga is our go to stress relief tool. We’ve put together 5 yoga poses to help reduce stress in your life.

Did you know? Stress is natural response in our body and can have either a positive or negative impact on our wellbeing. For many of us today, we are affected by stress on a daily basis.

In caveman time, the stress response had a positive outcome for our body. It was triggered to protect us from danger. It was “survive or fight”. Now, we are discovering that our mind and body are responding differently to this left over survival mechanism. We are now being affected by stress on a daily basis. In the short term, this is not necessarily a bad thing, but over time chronic stress puts our health and wellbeing at risk.

We explore 5 yoga poses to help de-stress your mind and body.

UTTANASANA (STANDING FORWARD BEND)

Forward Bends allow your mind and body to literally “ let go”. Uttanasana is a wonderful pose to get out of your head. This asana makes us drop our head below the level of our heart, causing blood to flow to our brain rather than our feet. When this happens, it gives our body and cells a rejuvenating boost of oxygen, which calms our mind, and as a result relieves stress and anxiety. The beauty of this pose is you can be done anywhere, anytime. I love Uttanasana as it really helps reduce stress and tension in my shoulders and neck.

SAVASANA (Dead Mans Corpse)

Savasana or Dead Mans Corpse is called this for a reason. It’s basically the equivalent of lying down without moving your muscles. It’s the best pose to finish your yoga practice and your day. This deep restorative pose gives your body and most importantly your mind permission to be in a restful state. In Savasana our body and nervous system enters into a state called “rest and digest”. As this happens, it allows our central nervous system to de-stress, and restore equilibrium and to our mind, body and spirit.
In Savasana, your arms and legs are extended with your legs spread. Palms face up to the sky, neck is relaxed.

VIPARTITI KARANI (Feet up the Wall)

Place your pelvis on a pillow and put your legs up the wall. Viparita Karani is considered the “Jewel for Women in Yoga”. This asana is known as ‘inverted lake’ and is based on the belief that the blood and hormones circulate better through the body when it is inverted.

This supported inversion allows the pelvis to be above the heart and pools the energy like a lake into your pelvis, calming your heart and mind. This pooling effect induces the relaxation response, calming your central nervous system and restoring your body. Having your feet up the wall for just 5 minutes is equivalent to a 30 minute power nap!

PASCHIMOTTANSANA (Intense Stretch to West)

This pose has an abundance of benefits physically, mentally and emotionally. This forward bend stretches the muscles of the lower back, hips and hamstrings. Forward bends induce a peaceful state of mind. When the heart and head are lower than the spine it calms the entire nervous system, reducing stress and alleviating depression.

BALASANA (CHILDS POSE)

Balasana is a gentle and restorative pose that enables the body to seek balance and to release tension. It relaxes and calms the mind and body while lengthening the entire spine. Initiating the relaxation response in this pose releases lower back tension, menstrual cramps, PMS and helps to normalize blood flow throughout the entire body.

What are some of the other techniques you use to reduce stress? Share them with us in the comments below.