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4 yoga poses for stress relief

yoga-stress-relief-seated-forward-fold-header If you feel exhausted, moody, overwhelmed or in need of a retreat, chances are you are stressed out. Stressors find their way into our daily lives and present differently. Some stress is good (like starting a new job) and some is negative (like traffic, finances, arguments, etc.). It’s important to get ahead of the stress and decrease or stop it before it affects more than your mood. Negative stress weakens the mind and body, and can lead to serious health problems.

How to reduce stress

  • Breathe - The best way to alleviate a state of overwhelm is to stop and breathe. Breathe slowly in and exhale slowly out.
  • Sleep - Getting the right amount of sleep will also drastically help reduce stress. When we are well-rested, we are better able to manage stressors. The more tired we are, the better chance we have of being overly emotional.
  • Yoga – Of course, yoga is good for stress relief! The act of moving with breath calms the nervous system, unblocks stagnant energy, and offers a meditative state from which the mind and body benefits.

Quick yoga poses to relieve stress

If you don’t have time to make it to yoga class, don’t stress. Set aside 10 minutes to practice 4 yoga poses for stress relief. ToeSox Ambassador Robin Martin demonstrates each pose that relieves stress and invites calm. Additional information provided shows just how good each asana is for you (via Yoga Journal).

  1. Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana)

  • Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
  • Stretches the spine, shoulders, hamstrings
  • Stimulates the liver, kidneys, ovaries, and uterus
  • Improves digestion
  • Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause and menstrual discomfort
  • Soothes headache and anxiety and reduces fatigue
  • Therapeutic for high blood pressure, infertility, insomnia, and sinusitis
  • Traditional texts say that Paschimottanasana increases appetite, reduces obesity, and cures diseases
yoga-stress-relief-seated-forward-fold

  1. Upward Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana)

  • Improves posture
  • Strengthens the spine, arms, wrists
  • Stretches chest and lungs, shoulders, and abdomen
  • Firms the buttocks
  • Stimulates abdominal organs
  • Helps relieve mild depression, stress, fatigue, and sciatica
  • Therapeutic for asthma
yoga-stress-relief-upward-facing-dog

  1. Supported headstand (Salamba Sirsasana)

  • Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
  • Stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands
  • Strengthens the arms, legs, and spine
  • Strengthens the lungs
  • Tones the abdominal organs
  • Improves digestion
  • Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
  • Therapeutic for asthma, infertility, insomnia, and sinusitis
"Eagle pose is often associated with stress relief as well, so I added the eagle leg bind to the headstand" - Robin Martin yoga-stress-relief-headstand

  1. Downward Facing Dog (Adho mukha savasana)

  • Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
  • Energizes the body
  • Stretches the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands
  • Strengthens the arms and legs
  • Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
  • Relieves menstrual discomfort when done with head supported
  • Helps prevent osteoporosis
  • Improves digestion
  • Relieves headache, insomnia, back pain, and fatigue
  • Therapeutic for high blood pressure, asthma, flat feet, sciatica, sinusitis
yoga-stress-relief-downward-dog Practice these yoga poses to relieve stress and to stay calm through a chaotic moment or day.