9 Effective and Calming Yoga Asanas for Stress Relief

Yoga is not merely an ordinary physical exercise. It helps the person achieve beyond the physical pursuits. It originated 5000 years ago in the Vedic era through the sadhus and yogis who dwelled in the forest. They practiced yoga to gain spiritual enlightenment and mental discipline.  People of modern society have realized the values of yoga, practicing asanas to get free from mental and physical pressures, and gaining balance in their family and life.

Can yoga give relief in Stress?

Stress of any type, be it physical or psychological causes transformation in your body in the form of strain. It will disrupt your peace and happy state of mind, destroy your efficiency and make your life miserable. Bearing stress in your mind and body may cause short-term sickness and long-term illnesses or disorders.

Yoga can help you to get over your sickness and make you physically and mentally fit from the inside, revitalize your brain nerves and refine your thoughts. It will help you to deal with difficulties or critical conditions with ease.  Different physical postures, breathing techniques and mindful exercises of yoga will bring down cortisol levels, calm down the nerves and bring relaxation to the mind.

Yoga, a part of ayurvedic treatment balances doshas and makes the person skilful in every respect. Regular practice would not let the person complain about any frustration, failure, depression, anxiety or any form of stress.

9 Best Yoga asana for stress relief

Yoga maintains its everlasting significance in the contemporary world as it is capable of promoting multifaceted benefits to the individual’s body and mind. There are a variety of asanas of yoga that release tension and help in recovering from stress or any form of physical and mental disorder. Embracing the Benefits of Yoga Asanas in Your Daily Life can lead to improved physical and mental well-being, providing a holistic approach to health and vitality.

1. Child’s pose

You would not have to make enough effort to do it with this child’s posture or balasana. You will have to fold your knees and kneel on your knees, bend your upper part of the body to touch the floor with your forehead. and get relief from sprain occurring in the back and shoulders. It will aid in calming down your mind and body. This posture bears a resemblance as if the child is resting. It will also inspire your spiritual awakening.

2. Corpse pose

You will have to lie down flat with your back touching the bed like a dead body and engage in deep breathing. You will be keeping your arms and legs in an extended condition. It is quite easy to do in which you will not have to make enough effort. It will cool down your mind, improve the circulation of blood and warm up your body. You can do this yoga any time of the day before or after eating a meal. It will relax your body and revitalize your brain nerves.

3. Cat cow stretch

You will have to stretch your back while standing on your knees and palms of your hands just like a cat. It’s known as Marjaryasana-Bitilasana as you will be coordinating your breath with your body movement. It will help make your body flexible. cat cow stretch also control the unrestfulness in your body and increase relaxation in your back, neck and shoulders.

4. Standing forward bend

It is known as uttanasana in which you will be bending forward and touching your feet with your hips lifted high up.. It will aid in relieving your lower back and shoulders from stress and producing calming effects on your mind and body.

5. Seated forward bend

You will be sitting with your legs and hands stretched forward and bending your head forward down. This paschimuttamasana will stretch your spine and shoulders.  You can practice deep breathing exercises while being in this posture. It will control stress, anxiety and depression.

6. Leg up the wall pose

You will be lying on your back with your head downwards and legs upwards on the wall. It will enhance relaxation and bring flexibility to your whole body from head to toe. Doing this Viparita karani pose once or twice a day, you will never complain about stress. It will also reduce swelling in your feet in case you are suffering from it.

Also Visit: Benefits of Surya Namaskar Yoga

7. Bridge pose

You will be lying on your back by allowing your legs to stand like the legs of the table and raise the upper part of your body and lower part of the body including the pelvis and keep the back of your scalp on the floor… This setu bandhana pose may be quite challenging for you for the first time. But doing it regularly, you will surely gain a balance in your body and relief from stress.

8. Reclining bound angle pose

You will be lying down with your back on the floor and so allowing your soles to touch one another. It will let you get free from tension existing in your joints and different parts of the body.

9. Alternate nostril breathing

You will breathe in and breathe out from your nostrils alternatively. This yoga will help in balancing the nervous system, relieving stress and cleansing your mind. It is known as Nadi shodasana.

Conclusion

Yoga is a physical practice that helps people attain goals beyond their physical capabilities. It has its roots in the Vedic era, around 5000 years ago. It began with sadhus and yogis who were pursuing mental discipline and spiritual enlightenment. To reduce stress, balance their families, and recover from illness, individuals practice yoga poses nowadays. Many yoga poses, such corpse pose, bridge pose, and child’s pose, increase blood flow, reduce tension, and foster flexibility, all of which lower stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Ayurvedic medicine for stress and anxiety complements yoga practice, offering holistic approaches to mental well-being and overall health.