Stress Relief Yoga

Stress relief yoga has become the go-to phenomenon for people who have a lot of stress in their lives and need a stress buster to get rid of it. That yoga is a calming force, is not something new to people. But how exactly should it be used to help reduce stress, now that is a new angle that many are not aware of. Keeping that in mind, we will be giving you certain stress relief exercises which you can use. Ready?

Yoga for Beginners

Stress relief yoga has different phases to it. A beginner will starts off with exercises that are simple in comparison to others. And as and how he gets adept at them, the levels of difficulty will increase.

Balasana or Child's Pose

• Sit with your legs folded under you. The heel should touch your butt.
• Now slowly lower your chest onto your knees.
• Bring your face along with it and try to touch the ground with your forehead.
• Do not lift your into the air to do so. If the forehead does not touch the ground, take it till the point that your butt rests on your heel.
• Now stretch your arms either to the back or the front.
• Maintain this pose for 5 minutes.
• Make sure that you're breathing deeply throughout.

Makarasana or Crocodile Pose

• Lie flat on your stomach with your legs stretched out.
• Now place your hands under your chin (palms up).
• Now bring the elbows up against the ground.
• Continue to breathe deeply and evenly.
• Maintain this pose for 5 minutes.

Savasana or Corpse Pose

• Lie on your back comfortably.
• Now spread your arms and legs to a 45 degree angle.
• Breathe deeply and evenly while concentrating on every breath that you inhale and exhale.
• Concentrate on the rising and falling of the chest.
• Now concentrate on each body part and eel the tension ebbing away from each part.
• Stay in this pose for a minimum of 10-15 minutes.

Uttanasana or Standing Forward

• Stand with your legs slightly apart, such that you are able to maintain a balance.
• Now slowly take your hands forward till they touch the ground.
• Your knees might bend a little, that's OK.
• You can vary the poses with whatever feels comfortable. Let the body hang loosely.
• Let the arms swing from side to side.
• You could even take your arms backwards so that your forehead touches your shin.
• Make sure that the hamstring and back feel a stretch.
• This pose is very refreshing for the brain.
• Come back to the standing pose slowly and relax the shoulders while you do so.
• Maintain this pose for 3-5 minutes

Ardha Sirsasana Pose

• Make sure that the surface that you practice this pose on is a non-smooth surface.
• Come onto your fours and then lift yourself into your hands and knees.
• Now place your elbows on the floor, ahead of your shoulders. So that the hands are sprawled ahead of your head.
• Now lock your hands together.
• Maintain this position with a firm grasp on your fingers.
• Now curl the toes under your foot and lift your knees up.
• Make sure that your legs are absolutely straight.
• Now hold your head in a relaxed position.
• It should not touch the ground and neither should it be balanced on the hands.
• Now press into the floor with your arms.
• Lift the shoulders away from the ears.
• Lift your back and hips.
• Do not arch the back.
• Try to form a straight line from the jaw till the pubic bone.
• Relax your jaw and maintain the pose for 5 minutes.
• Come out from the pose by lowering your knees to the floor and sitting back on your heels.
• Now lay your chest onto your thighs.
• Now let your forehead touch the ground and let your arms fall beside your legs with the palms facing up.

Now that you know what some of the stress relief yoga poses are, use them whenever you feel stressed and tired. You'll find that you'll come out feeling fresh and rejuvenated.