5 Yoga Poses for Immediate Stress Relief

Written by Tonia ~ Category: Beauty & Wellbeing ~ Read Time: 3 min.

Being a working gal, I soon realized that everyday life can get overwhelming and extremely stressful. Having to balance between long hours at work, personal life, social life and me time can lead to the opposite results: losing balance.

Our fast-paced world sometimes does not give us enough time to decompress and escape from our everyday chores and responsibilities.

However, it is important to try and keep our mental and physical health as a priority and try to maintain a stress-free life, even if this seems unachievable.

Unfortunately, there is no magic recipe when it comes to relieving stress. It needs time and dedication, as well as consistency, in order to come to a complete state of mindfulness and get rid of stress. Nonetheless, what I discovered, especially during COVID, when my stress levels reached the top, is that sometimes, the only thing you need is a quick and effective way to relieve stress.

This is when I started practicing yoga. Yoga offered me a soothing escape from daily pressures and the overwhelming period I was going through, and I managed to balance my emotions and be present.

It may sound unbelievable at first, but yoga relieves physical tension and stress by combining gentle exercises such as gradual Sun Salutations and seated forward bends. Also, yoga’s breathing techniques, such as Alternate Nostril Breathing (Anulom Viloma) and Box Breathing (sama Vritti Pranayam) help to quiet the nervous system and enable us to feel more relaxed.

According to research and many studies, yoga practice on a regular basis helps to reduce overall stress, promotes emotional balance, and boosts resilience.

But what happens when we need an instant energy booster and a natural stress reliever? The answer is simple: practice one or even all of the following yoga poses and see your stress levels go down. Trust me, it works!

Child's Pose (Balasana)

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This favorite pose will bring you back to your childhood and will immediately make you feel super relaxed and carefree. Plus, it’s very simple. All you have to do is kneel on the floor, sit back on your heels, and stretch your arms forward while lowering your forehead to the ground. This pose can provide a gentle stretch for your back and help calm the mind.

Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana)

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This is an amazing pose and it can alleviate the tension during PMS. Start on your hands and knees, arch your back upward like a cat (Cow Pose), and then arch it downward (Cat Pose). This dynamic movement can release tension in your spine.

Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

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This is probably the most popular yoga pose, and apart from the stress relief it offers, it is amazing for your flexibility. Begin on your hands and knees, then lift your hips upward, forming an inverted V shape with your body. This pose stretches your hamstrings and helps relieve tension in the shoulders and neck.

Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani)

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You can try this pose mainly at home since you will need a wall for this. Sit with your side against a wall, swing your legs up the wall, and lie on your back. This gentle inversion can promote relaxation and reduce fatigue.

Corpse Pose (Savasana)

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Imagine you are on a nice beach, right next to the waves, and try this pose. You will feel so carefree that you won’t want to get up. Lie flat on your back, arms by your sides, and legs slightly apart. Close your eyes and focus on deep, relaxed breathing. Savasana is a classic pose for total relaxation and stress relief.

These poses do not require a lot of time, they are extremely easy so you don’t need to have prior yoga experience and they are exactly what you need to relieve stress and reach mindfulness. Every time you feel that you are overwhelmed, give your mental and physical health a treat. Even better, try and incorporate these yoga poses into your daily routine and see the difference.

Remember to focus on your breath, allowing it to guide you into a state of calm and relaxation. Yoga is a powerful tool against anxiety and stress and can make our everyday life a little less challenging.

Namaste!

It took 1 coffee to write this article.


About the author

Tonia

If you could find one person combining physical strength and mental ability it would have her name. Tonia is also a teacher, but she has serious experience in all kinds of jobs. She can do whatever you ask her. She is also a big fan of remote work -and she is not afraid to admit it. This is why she loves writing about it.

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