Stress is a part of life these days. And with the holidays, there is just no way to escape it. There are a lot you can do to help relieve stress though, and you don’t have to resort to dip into the holiday eggnog to do it! I have found Yoga to be a great way to manage the stress in my life. You should give it a try.
Here is five easy yoga poses that can help you relieve stress.
Salutation Seal
Peacefully sit in a cross legged position and focus on relaxing your back and shoulders. Let your chin sink into your chest. Touch your palms together and take in slow deep breaths. Concentrate on the inhale and the exhale until you are fully relaxed.
Standing Forward Bend
Stand with your feet spread apart at hip distance. Bend down as you exhale. Try to touch the top of your head to the floor but when your hamstrings feel the stretch, you’ve gone down low enough. Now place your left hand on your right elbow, release, then place your right hand on your left elbow. Let the tension and stress flow out of your fingertips into the floor.
Spinal Twists
Sit on a cushion with your legs on the floor cross-legged. Stretch your arms out behind you. Lock your fingers together and pull your arms up away from your lower back. Now, inhale slowly as you twist to the right and exhale slowly as you twist to the left. This is a good pose if you tend to hold tension and stress in your lower back.
Child’s Pose
Sit comfortably on your knees and lean forward to rest on your head on the ground or a pillow. Rest your arms at your side with your palms facing up. Breathe slowly and deeply, focusing on your breath for about five minutes or until the stress melts away.
Greeting Breath
Stand with your feet apart and your arms at your sides. Inhale slowly while raising your arms above your head. When your arms are fully extended and your palms touch, exhale slowly and lower your arms by keeping your palms together and sliding your arms down the front of your body. Do this slowly and deliberately until your mind is calm and centered.
About Umma
Stalk Me