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Through the years, several studies have shown that yoga can help relieve stress. With the right approaches, one can leverage all benefits of yoga for anxiety. Here are five positions (plus tips) for the best yoga experience!
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Yoga For Anxiety – Fight Stress Through Relaxation:
The Role of Yoga in Curbing Anxiety
Around 3.3 million American adults experience anxiety disorders. As we rush to hit deadlines and navigate through the bulk of projects, we unconsciously put our bodies under a stress response system, which hurts the immune system and makes them vulnerable to chronic anxiety disorders.
One of the long traditional ways to deal with anxiety is through yoga. Yoga levitates the mind above the hustle and bustle of modern life, soothing our brains and switching our “fight or flight” mechanisms to “rest and restore.”
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Six Yoga Positions to Combat Anxiety
1. Yoga For Anxiety | Corpse Pose (Savasana)
Savasana is the easiest yet the most critical piece of a yoga practice. However, Savasana can be challenging for people with anxiety and panic attacks. The good news: the more challenging the task, the greater the reward.
Benefits:
- Relieve mild depression and stress.
- Clarify the body and mind.
2. Yoga For Anxiety | Legs-Up-The-Wall (Viparita Karani)
How to enter this posture:
- Lie comfortably. Lean back before lifting your legs to the wall
- Move your hips as close to the wall as possible and gently stretch the backs of your legs at the same time
- Rest your back on the ground, perpendicular to the wall
- Tuck your chin toward the chest
- Close your eyes. Inhale and exhale
Benefits:
- Relieve stress and anxiety
- Therapeutic benefits for arthritis, headache/migraine, insomnia, high blood pressure, menstrual cramps, etc.
3. Yoga For Anxiety | Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana)
Before you start, sit comfortably by wiggling around your yoga mat, adjusting your legs to be together out in front of you, and keeping the tailbone untucked to strengthen the spine.
How to enter this posture:
- Sit up tall. When you’re reaching up high, inhale deeply and then exhale while folding your torso over the legs
- Synchronize your breathing with the stretch; as you exhale, go deeper
Pro tips: Gradually descend your hands along the sides of your legs before reaching for your feet. Don’t rush the stretch!
Benefits:
- Relieve stress and anxiety
- Therapeutic benefits for digestive problems, premenstrual syndrome, sinusitis, etc.
4. Yoga For Anxiety | Extended Puppy (Uttana Shishosana)
How to enter this posture:
- Adjust the knees to be slightly separated. Rest tops of the feet on the floor
- Slide your upper body forward with positioned arms, stretched fingers, and hips lifted off your heels
- Rest with your forehead touching the ground
Pro tips: place a mat or blanket beneath your knees to ease the burden.
Benefits:
- Relieve stress and anxiety
- Strengthens the legs
- Stretches the abdominals, hips, hamstrings, spine, and back muscles
5. Yoga For Anxiety | Supported Headstand (Salamba Sirsasana)
Headstands are for advanced practitioners, and you shouldn’t practice this position unless receiving supervision from certified yoga instructors.
Tips: Use a yoga strap to support your head. Elevate the legs gently to avoid injuries.
Benefits:
- Relieve anxiety and mild depression
- Therapeutic for scoliosis, insomnia, asthma, and skin aging
Practicing yoga constantly and consistently could bring considerable benefits to anxiety. The more you practice, the more quickly you will be able to execute this state of relaxation in times of worry.
Do stress and anxiety hinder you from enjoying life? Get SAFE, EFFECTIVE, and CUTTING-EDGE therapies for health optimization at YM. Contact to schedule your FREE consultation at our four offices in Florida, Ocala, Fruitland Park, and Daytona. 2020 is DONE. Let’s SLAY 2021!
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