Get Rid of Stress With These Yoga Poses

Life is stressful for everyone at one point or another. Whether there are issues in your personal or professional life, everyone feels down sometime. To beat stress different individuals adopt different strategies. Some take medications, others go for a jog or take a long vacation.

But each of these work only to a limit. At times even the solution to stress becomes a part of the problem. What if we told you that getting rid of stress was easier than that? Yes! We are talking about the ancient art of yoga.

But, first let us understand what stress is.

What is Stress?

Stress is your body’s normal reaction towards a challenging situation. It helps your body adjust to new situations. There is positive stress that keeps you alert and motivated throughout the day. But when your body continues to remain in this state for longer period then it becomes a problem.

Let us find out how your body reacts during stress.

What Happens to Your Body During Stress?

Your body’s autonomic system controls the heart rate, breathing, vision, and much more. It has an in-built stress response system – the fight-or-flight response. This system helps your body survive a stressful situation.

When you suffer from long-term stress (Chronic Stress) it damages your body and mind. There are many physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms that occur with stress.

Physical Symptoms of Stress

• Ache and pains
• Exhaustion / Sleeping problems
• High blood pressure

Emotional Symptoms of Stress

• Depression
• Panic Attacks
• Sadness
• Anxiety / Irritability

Behavioral Symptoms of Stress

• Smoking
• Drug Abuse
• Gambling

Fortunately, you can make stress relief yoga a part of your daily life to keep this problem away for good.

Yoga to Beat Stress

The ancient art of yoga has many techniques to help you beat stress. Some of these include:

• Controlled Breathing
• Physical Movement
• Stretching
• Mental Imagery
• Meditation

Daily yoga practice unites your body, mind, and spirit. There are some stress relief yoga poses that can help you do that. Let us first understand the effects of yoga on stress.

Effects of Yoga for Stress Relief

Below is a partial list of yoga benefits:

• Sound and deep sleep
• Reduced cortisol levels
• Lower blood pressure
• Lower heart rate
• Spiritual growth
• Increased sense of well-being
• Reduced muscle tension
• Helps quit smoking
• Increased strength and agility
• Slowed aging process

Doing yoga for stress reduction daily gives you all these wonderful benefits. But you have to practice the right yoga poses for that.

To help you do that, yoga experts have come up with some powerful yoga asanas.

Yoga Asanas to Beat Stress

Given below are 5 yoga asanas you can practice to keep stress away for good.

1. Cat Pose

An easy to learn yoga for stress reduction pose. This is an effective yoga exercise to get rid of stress.

Benefits of Cat Pose

• Soothes and stretches your lower back
• Helps relieve stress
• Cools down your body and muscles

2. Child’s Pose

The easiest yoga pose you can practice as a beginner. Child’s pose helps you release all pent up stress in the body.

Benefits of Child’s Pose

• A resting posture that calms your brain and reduces stress
• Good for lymphatic and nervous system
• Helps release anxiety with stress

3. Cobra Pose

Cobra Pose is a highly effective stress relief yoga exercise. Besides its many physical health benefits it also gives you relief from asthma.

Benefits of Cobra Pose

• Provides your body with immediate relaxation
• Improves the respiratory system by opening the chest
• Reduces muscle pain to a great extent

4. Standing Forward Bend Pose

The Standing Forward Bend has a lot of physical and mental health benefits for you.

Benefits of Standing Forward Bend Pose

• Helps release tension from your hamstrings, hips, and thighs
• Relieves stress, mild symptoms of depression, and fatigue
• Helps cool down the nervous system

5. Extended Puppy Pose

This is a combination of two different yoga asanas – Downward Facing Dog and Child’s Pose.

Benefits of Extended Puppy Pose

• Reduces mental stress by calming your mind
• Stretches your entire body and all muscles
• Improves your mood and calms down the mind

Stress is a good thing. But too much of it can become a cause of concern. You should practice yoga daily to keep this problem away for good.

Conclusion

Do you feel stressed out and irritable all the time? It is time you make stress relief yoga a part of your daily routine. Join a certified yoga school to learn how yoga can help you beat stress for good.