Yoga Poses for Depression & Anxiety

There’s nothing worse than having an extremely busy day, is there? All you feel is the anxiety rising inside of you and you find it difficult to focus and relax. Well, I have some good news!

Yoga can really help you stay n tune even on the most chaotic days. It helps relieve anxiety and stress by keeping you focused on breathing instead of all the troubles racing through your head.

When you take deep breaths in and out, you stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system. This is one of three divisions of the autonomic part of your nervous system that conserves energy while slowing your heart rate, increasing your  gland and intestinal activity and relaxing sphincter muscles in your gastrointestinal tract.

Here are three of the best yoga poses for giving stress the boot. Try them in this order the next time you start to feel frazzled. They’ll help calm your body and mind instantly.

Three yoga poses for stress and anxiety relief

1. The eagle pose

This standing yoga pose challenges your focus and balance as it opens your shoulders.

To do this pose, stand in front of your yoga mat, bend your knee and wrap your right leg over your left leg. If you can manage it, cross your foot behind your calf. If you can’t, tap your toes to the floor. At the same time, wrap your upper right arm under your left arm, cross your forearms and press your palms together. During this pose, gaze at your fingertips while you tighten your abs for five to eight breaths. Repeat on the opposite side.

2. The warrior 3

The warrior 3 yoga pose is a tough one to master. It requires intense balancing and activates a boatload of muscles in your lower body.

From a standing position, tip forward and lift your left leg straight up behind you. Make sure you keep your hips and torso parallel to the floor and your left toes facing toes. It helps to imagine that you have a cup resting on your lower back. Reach your hands back and gaze at a spot 25 cm to 30 cm in front of you on the floor. Hold for five to eight breaths. Repeat with the opposite leg.

3. Standing straddle forward bend

The standing straddle forward bend yoga pose is incredibly relaxing. It opens your hips and stretches your hamstrings.

Step into a wide straddle with your toes facing forward. Fold over, placing your hands on the floor – about a shoulder-width apart. Pull your elbows straight back as you draw your head closer to the floor. Let your neck completely release and engage your shoulder blades to keep the tops of your shoulders relaxed. Take 10 breaths.

If you practise these three poses, you’re guaranteed to feel like you’re letting the world fall off your body and onto the floor!

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