Yoga For Stress Relief And Anxiety

I find around this time of year to be for me the most stressful and anxiety fuelling. For me personally I have a lot of important and public occasions happen in these first few months of the year, also with the added extra pressure of getting health and fitness back on track it can be hard to find me time.

Today I am going to share with you some of my favourite yoga poses that I find help me the most when trying to relive stress and manage my anxiety.

Childs Pose (Balasana)

Childs pose is probably most commonly known as a place of rest within a yoga routine.

Childs pose can help release tension in the back, neck, and shoulders, these places are where people tend to hold on to most of their stress. this pose is also great for relaxation by encouraging a steady conscious breath, which is fantastic for anxiety sufferers due to the calming effect it has on the nervous system.

This pose is an easy one to get into and hold.

First begin on your hands and knees, ideally with your big toes touching. Your hands should be directly under your arms and your legs hip distance apart. Exhale as you bow forward, allow your torso to rest on or between your thighs with your forehead on the mat. Keep your arms long and extended, press into your hands keeping your sit bones on your heels.

Hold this pose for as long as you want, when finished slow sit back up on to your heels.

Tree Pose (Vrikasana)

Tree pose is an essential pose for stress relief and easing anxiety. By implementing basic standing balances, you promote concentration, focus ad awareness, with the ability of taking your mind away from your stresses and pushing all your attention on your physical self.

I often practice Tree pose when at home and I find myself standing for prolonged periods of time, while I personally don't do this but this pose is great to practice and work if you can, or maybe at the airport where you're forced to stand for and extended amount of time.
Its a great distraction from common anxiety triggers.

Standing tall with your feet hip-width apart, shift your weight to your dominate leg. Bend your other knee and place the sole of your foot onto the thigh of your dominate leg or just below the knee (this is down to ability and personally preference) with you toe pointing towards the floor.
Centre your pelvis so that it is directly over your standing leg. press the sole of your foot into your inner thigh, while pushing back with your outer thigh or the standing leg. there are different hand placements you can do in this pose, its all down to you ad what you are comfortable with. A couple of options are; Placing your hands in prayer with your thumbs at your heart. Another way is to hold your arms shoulder-width apart above your head. which ever way you choose to hold your hands pick a spot on the wall or ceiling and hold your gaze there to help with your balance. Hold Tree pose for 2-3 breath cycles, then repeat on the other side.

Headstand (Sirsasana)

Headstands are great for reliving stress and anxiety as is reverses the blood flow in your body and forces you to focus on you your breathing instead of your stress and anxiety.

When you increase and stimulate blood flow to your head, one main benefit is the detoxification of the adrenals, which is known to contribute to the decrease in depression as well.

To do this pose start on your hands and knees, with your forearms shoulder-width apart. Keeping your elbows there, interlace your finger so that your pinkies touch the ground. Place the crown of your head onto the ground and cradle it in your hands. Tuck your toes and lift your hips high, walking your feet in as close to your elbows as you can. Engage your abdominal muscles, press your forearms onto your yoga mat (if you have one) lifting out of your shoulders and slowly lifting one leg off the ground. Practice lifting just one leg at a time until you feel completely comfortable with this movement. 

To enter a full headstand, lift your feet straight u over your shoulders and hips until your legs are completely straight overhead. You can practice near a wall for support if you need to or if you are new to headstands. its important to find a spot to fix your gaze to. Hold this pose for 5-6 breathe cycles.

when you are ready to exit this pose, slowly lower your feet down one at a time and bring your knees to the mat. You can rest in Childs pose for 3-4 breathe cycles.

Legs Up The Wall Pose (Viparita Karani)

Legs Up The Wall Pose is my favourite pose to do. It is great for reliving lower back pain and easing anxiety symptoms, not only does it relive these things but it is also great for easing arthritis discomfort, menstrual cramping, reducing insomnia and lowering high blood pressure.

This pose can pretty much be done absolutely anywhere that as a wall. its always nice to place a pillow or a rolled up blanket to place under your lumber spine to help relive any lower back pressure.

Sit with your left or right side resting as close to the was as possible, in one movement  swing your legs up onto the wall and rest your shoulders and head onto the floor. Slowly eas yourself forward until your buttocks and hamstring area touch the wall. Allow yourself to relax. Stay in this pose for 10 minutes or longer if needed. When you wish to exit this pose, swing your legs to one side.