We all get stressed at some point in our lives and this stress has negative physical effects. There are too many things to do during the day and most anxieties originate from our minds without any valid reason. Yoga is a group of exercises that connects the mind and the body and has been shown to be of great help in reducing stress. Below are some of the yoga poses that you can do to eliminate stress from your day.
1. Mountain pose
Also known as Tadasana, this pose is a very common pose that has to be perfectly understood. Stand upright with your feet together and evenly on the floor, keeping your knees stacked over your ankles and make sure they aren’t locked straight. Engage your glutes and maintain a neutral pelvis. Then brace your core muscles and throw your shoulders back and down. Then, with your hands by your side and palms facing forward, close your eyes and maintain the pose for about 5 to 10 breaths.
2. Cobra pose
Start on your belly, with both palms directly beneath your shoulders. Keep your fingers widely spread and your pelvis glued to the mat, then press evenly into both palms and lift your chest up. Do this while you draw your shoulder blades together behind your back, and allow your shoulders to drop down away from your ears, so that there is space between your ears and your shoulders.
3. Butterfly pose
Bend your knees with the soles of your feet kept together in front of you. Then elongate your spine while you tilt your tail-bone slightly to the back. Bend forward and press your knees down toward the floor with your elbows while you lower your chest down to your feet, and go as far as you can. Maintain for about 5 to 10 breaths, then release gently with your knees pressed together.
4. Forward fold
Stand upright, then fold forward to reach your toes or close to them as you can. Relax into this position and then stretch from the lower back and allow the crown of your head to hang down towards the floor with your neck totally relaxed. Draw your torso closer to your legs and breathe deeply, and hold this position for about 5 to 10 breaths.
You can always relieve stress and feel good again. After a long hectic day, try one or more of these yoga poses.