Yoga has long been known to be a great antidote to stress. Yoga combines many popular stress-reducing techniques, including Asanas (physical postures) and learning to control the breath through Pranayamas, clear the mind through Meditation, and relax the body with Yoga Nidra practice. As yoga becomes increasingly popular, more and more people are discovering the benefits this ancient practice brings to their stressful lives. Establishing a consistent yoga routine is the best way to experience the difference yoga can make. Start with a stress management yoga routine that is intended for beginners who think they don’t have time for yoga.

Pranayama (Breathing Exercises)
Pranayama, or breath work, is an important part of any yoga practice and one that translates well to life off the mat. At the very least, yoga increases your awareness of the breath as a tool for relaxing the body. Although breathing is an involuntary act (you have to keep doing it to stay alive), you can choose to regulate the breath. Just learning to take deep breaths and realizing that this can be a quick way to combat stressful situations is amazingly effective.

Clearing the Mind
Our minds are constantly active, racing from one thought to another, spinning possible scenarios for the future, dwelling on incidents from the past. All this mind work is tiring and stressful.

Yoga offers several techniques for taming the monkey mind. One is breath work, as outlined above. Each breath is tied inextricably to the present moment; you are not breathing in the past or the future, but only right now. Focusing on each inhale and exhale to the exclusion of other thoughts is one way to clear the mind, It is also a basic meditation technique. In addition, the performance of yoga poses, or asanas, also acts as a form of meditation. The poses are so physical and have to be done with such concentration, that all other thoughts and worries are put to the side, giving your brain a much-needed break

Relaxation
Each yoga sessions ends with five to ten minutes spent relaxing in corpse pose – savasana. While this enforced relaxation can be difficult at first, eventually it serves the purpose of a total release for both body and mind. Savasana transitions you back into the world feeling refreshed and equipped with the tools to combat stress in your daily life. Yoga Nidra is a practice that offers an opportunity for a longer, deeper period of relaxation and an introduction to meditation, which can also be a great stress reducer.

Yoga has many styles, forms and intensities. Hatha yoga, in particular, may be a good choice for stress management. Hatha is one of the most common styles of yoga, and beginners may like its slower pace and easier movements. But most people can benefit from any style of yoga — it’s all about your personal preferences.

The core components of hatha yoga and most general yoga classes are:

• Asanas (Poses): Yoga poses, also called postures, are a series of movements designed to increase strength and flexibility. Poses range from simple to difficult. In a simple post, you might lie on the floor while completely relaxed. A difficult posture may have you stretching your physical limits.
• Pranayama (Breathing Exercises): Controlling your breathing is an important part of yoga. Yoga teaches that controlling your breathing can help you control your body and quiet your mind.
• Meditation or relaxation: In yoga, you may incorporate meditation or relaxation. Meditation may help you learn to be more mindful and aware of the present moment without judgment.

Symptoms of stress
Sweaty palms, heart racing, millions of thoughts speeding through your head? All these and more are signs of stress and anxiety. Stress can wreak havoc on your well-being—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

We all struggle with stress, especially with the ills we face in modern living. Many people deal with stress by exercising or other less beneficial methods while others try to ignore their feelings, allowing them to build up and affect their health.

Stress is a common result of being in an unfamiliar or unwelcoming situation. It causes one to feel unwell and makes insignificant problems seem larger than they are. For instance, some people stress about their financial situation, while others might stress about a rocky relationship with a friend or partner. We all have unique fears and anxieties and different ways of dealing with stressful situations and challenges.

Although we cannot permanently eradicate stress, the good news is that we can reduce its unpleasant side effects by exercising and practicing yoga is one of the best methods. By learning how to relax your body and mind, breathing more effectively, and practicing a series of asanas, yoga will help reduce the symptoms of stress.

Physical symptoms of stress:

• Tense muscles
• Low energy
• Dry mouth
• Headaches
• Frequent colds
• Chest pain
• Shaking
• Loss of sexual desire
• Grinding teeth or clenched jaw
• Upset stomach – diarrhea, nausea, constipation

Mental Symptoms of stress:

• Depression
• Irritability / Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Racing thoughts
• Lack of focus
• Persistent worrying
• Forgetfulness
• Loneliness

The practice of yoga will allow you to gently ease your mental and physical pace by focusing on mindful breathing, simple meditation, and physical postures. This will help to reduce stress, and at the same time, assist with lower blood pressure, increase lung capacity, improve your respiratory function, and heart rate.

What’s more, like most forms of exercise, yoga can boost your body’s production of hormones such as endorphins which are essential to cultivating happiness, health, and feelings of calmness. Endorphins, which are released when you do any form of exercise, play an important role in managing physical pain and negative emotions.

From beginner-friendly poses to the intricate eagle, not all yoga poses are equal. Each has its unique benefits from improving your posture to relieving headaches and insomnia, while also restoring your nervous and lymphatic system.

Below are some asanas to help with stress relief:

1. Easy Pose (Sukhasana) with optional Forward Fold
A simple pose for both beginner and intermediate yogis—Easy Pose or Sukhasana is an uncomplicated therapeutic pose which calms the mind and reduces stress and anxiety. Adding the forward bend helps increase the exhale, leading to the relaxation response.

Sukhasana stretches:
Your lower body areas such as your knees, ankles, hips, groin, and outer thighs.

Sukhasana helps with:
Easy Pose helps with the gradual strengthening of the back muscles and improves body posture.

How to do Easy Pose

• Start by sitting cross-legged on your mat, right shin/foot in the front.
• After a few minutes, slowly bend forward as far as you can, arms out in front of you. Don’t push yourself too hard.
• Stay in the forward bend for five breaths, then straighten.
• Switch legs and repeat above steps.

2.  Standing Forward Fold Pose (Uttanasana)
Uttanasana has many benefits which include quieting a busy mind, promoting calmness, and balancing the nervous system. It’s also mostly used as a transition between poses.

Uttanasana stretches:
Your hamstrings, calves, hips, and back.

Uttanasana helps with:
Standing Forward Fold helps to reduce stress and fatigue, stimulates the liver and kidneys, and relieves headaches and insomnia.

How to do Standing Forward Fold

• From simply neutral standing position, bend your knees and hinge forward from your hips, placing your hands in front of your feet. Remember to engage your core and exhale as you fold.
• Shift the weight to the balls of your feet. If your hamstrings are too tight, bend your knees slightly to prevent strain on your lower back. If you don’t have tight hamstrings, lengthen through the back of your legs. Remember to keep the weight on the balls of your feet.
• Grab hold of each elbow with opposite hands. Focus on softening your jaw, neck, around your eyes, and clearing thoughts from your mind.
• Hold the pose for five breaths, then slowly rise back up to Tadasana.

• While practicing this asana, imagine your worries flowing from your head all the way down to your feet, and being completely absorbed by the ground.
• Take your time coming out of this pose, especially if you have low blood pressure.

3. Child’s Pose (Balasana)
Child’s pose is perfect for quieting a busy mind and soothing the adrenals. When we stress excessively, we put pressure on our adrenal glands (located above the kidneys). This can lead to burnout. This pose allows you to embrace your inner child, hence the name Child’s pose.

Balasana stretches:
Your back, hips, thighs, and ankles.

Balasana helps with:
Child’s Pose can help to reduce stress and restore the nervous and lymphatic systems.

How to do Child’s Pose

• Start on your hands and knees, sit back over your heels with your hands in front of you.
• Slowly fold forward until your forehead rests on the mat.
• Allow your big toes to touch. You can either have your knees together or separated (it depends on how tight your hips are).
• Traditionally your arms are resting alongside your body, but you can stack your hands and rest your head on your forearms. You can also extend your arms in front of you.
• Stay in this pose for at least ten breaths.

• If your backside isn’t touching your heels, place a cushion in between.
• With each exhale try to let go as much air as you can.

4. Eagle Pose (Garudasana)
Eagle Pose or Garudasana is an intricate pose allowing you to “squeeze” out the tension in your body and focus on your balance, helping to alleviate stress and improve your concentration.

Garudasana stretches
Eagle Pose is perfect for stretching the whole body — your thighs, hips, calves, ankles, shoulders, and upper back.

Garudasana helps with
Eagle Pose stimulates the immune system and improves balance.

How to do Eagle Pose

• Begin by standing upright with your arms at your side.
• Bend your knees, balance on your right foot and cross your left thigh over your right.
• Hook the top of your left foot behind your right calf.
• Extend both arms straight in front of your body, then drop your left arm under your right.
• Bend your elbows, raise your forearms at a 90-degree angle (perpendicular) to the floor. Wrap your hands and arms, finally pressing your palms together.
• Square your chest and hips to the front. Draw your belly in and up.
• Focus on the tips of your thumbs to further retain your balance.
• Try to hold the pose for one minute. Gently unwind arms and legs and repeat on the left side.

At first, the pose might seem challenging, but continuous practice will soon allow you to master the Eagle Pose with less effort. Consistency is key! If balance is very difficult, touch one big toe to the floor.

5. Shoulder Pose (Kandharasana)
Shoulder Pose or Kandharasana acts as a mild inversion, with the heart higher than the head. It helps calm the brain and central nervous system, promote ease and relaxation, and alleviate stress, anxiety, and mild depression.

Kandharasana stretches
Shoulder Pose stretches your chest, neck, spine, hips, and back.

Kandharasana helps with
Shoulder Pose strengthens the back, buttocks, and hamstrings, improves digestion and the circulation of blood. It helps lower high blood pressure and can help with backaches, fatigue, insomnia, and headaches. It also stimulates the lungs, thyroid, and abdominal organs.

How to do Shoulder Pose

• Start with lying flat on your back. Bend your knees and place your feet hip-width apart. Keep your arms alongside your body with palms facing down.
• Press your feet into the floor. Inhale as much as you can and lift your hips. Ensure you keep your knees hip-width apart.
• Press into your arms and shoulders to lift your chest. Engage your legs and glutes to lift your hips higher.
• Hold for five breaths, exhale and slowly roll your spine back to the floor.

For more support, add a yoga block underneath your sacrum.

6. Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)
Triangle Pose is the perfect full-body stretch to help relieve stress and reduce anxiety.

Trikonasana stretches
Extended Triangle Pose helps stretch your lower body areas such as the knees, thighs, and ankles.

Trikonasana helps with
Extended Triangle Pose helps with digestion, sciatica, and osteoporosis.

How to do Triangle Pose

• Start the pose by standing upright, exhale and spread legs one metre apart.
• Stretch your arms sideways with palms facing the ground.
• Turn your right foot out at a 90-degree angle.
• Tighten your thigh muscles and turn your right thigh outwards.
• Bend your body down from your hips toward your right leg.
• Twist your body to the left.
• Push your left hip forward (slightly) and lengthen your tailbone towards your heel.
• Put your right hand on your ankle, shin or the floor, depending on your flexibility level. Stretch your left arm straight up into the air.
• Keep your head straight and hold the position for 30 seconds.

if you can’t reach the floor with your hand, place your hand on your leg either above or below your knee.

7.  Cat Pose (Marjariasana)
Cat Pose or Marjariasana is another asana which helps relieve stress, increase spinal flexibility and mobility and create emotional balance.

Marjariasana stretches
Cat Pose mostly focuses on stretching the lower back, but the movement also stretches the muscles of the hips, upper back, and lungs. Cat Stretch held at its peak, releases tension in the upper back and neck.

Marjariasana helps with
the asana flow (moving from one posture to another, seamlessly, using breath), helps relieve stress from menstrual cramps, lower back pain, and sciatica. It also massages and stimulates organs in the belly like the kidneys and adrenal glands.

How to do Cat Pose

• Start on your hands and knees, exhale while drawing your stomach into your spine.
• Round your back to the ceiling as far as possible.
• Point the crown of your head to the floor. Don’t force your chin onto your chest.
• Repeat ten times.

• Keep your shoulders relaxed.
• Don’t force your head down, instead let it drop naturally.
• To ensure the Cat Pose moves your spine, keep your arms straight.

8. Legs-up-the-wall Pose (Viparita Karani)
Commonly using a wall, the Legs-up-the-wall Pose or Viparita Karani is a fully supported asana. Having your legs up against a wall helps reduce stress and is a great pose to do before bed-time as it calms your mind and heart.

Viparita Karani stretches
Legs-up-the-wall helps stretch the back of your legs and neck, and chest.

Viparita Karani helps with
Legs-up-the-wall asana facilitates lymph drainage, increased blood circulation, and allows the return of blood back to the heart.

How to do Legs-up-the-wall Pose

• Start by placing your hips against a wall, then roll onto your back while straightening your legs against the wall.
• Your bottom should be pressed against the wall as close as possible. You might have to wiggle your way up close.
• Hold this pose for five minutes.

9. Corpse Pose (Savasana)
Usually, the last asana in yoga is the Corpse Pose or Savasana. It is generally considered the most calming part of the class. This pose promotes a sense of physical and emotional grounding, puts the whole body at ease, and leads to total relaxation.

Although it seems as if someone is simply laying on the ground, the pose is much trickier in reality. Even though most students are able to easily twist and bend their way through a yoga class, simply lying still on the floor is quite a struggle for some. Relaxation doesn’t happen on demand. Savasana helps fade away fears and worries, as the student gradually sinks into a complete state of relaxation.

Once you’ve mastered Corpse Pose, it’s extremely rewarding, as it relaxes your breathing, improves concentration, calms the mind, and improves mental health.

Savasana helps with
Corpse Pose helps with insomnia and is an excellent asana for stimulating blood circulation.

How to do Corpse Pose

• Start by lying flat on your back with your legs apart but not wider than your mat. Keep your arms at your sides with palms facing up.
• Keep your eyes closed, face relaxed, and focus on breathing deeply.
• Allow your mind to focus on each part of your body, starting at the top of your head and moving all the way down to your feet and releasing each part.
• Hold the pose for three to five minutes.