Stress is one of the silent killers of the modern era that is affecting not only the grown-ups but the younger ones as well. Yes, not even the kids are safe! Every one of you out there must be facing some or the other stress in life; be it due to the hardships of working under a strict boss, the pressure of getting good grades, the outcome of failing relationships or the lack of freedom to live your way!
This threat to mankind is killing each one of us in some form or the other every day. Stress not only affects your mental health but your physical health as well. And in the long run it has extremely ruining effects on everything including your career, relationships and your life! In fact, the building stress is the core reason of the increasing suicide rates today!
Somethings cannot be actually avoided. One of them is “Stress“. But, you can find better ways to deal with it!
One good answer to how can you relieve your stress and tension is by practicing “Yoga“. Having originated in India, some 6000+ years ago, yoga is a fine medium to better connect your physical, mental and spiritual self and thereby, relieve stress!
Today, a few days before the International Yoga Day that falls on 21st June, I am here to share a few very easy to practice yoga positions that can truly help you relax your body and mind.
Before I share the easy-to-practice, relaxing positions, let me first tell you in brief about the International Yoga Day.
It was on 11th December, 2014 that the United Nations’ General Assembly declared 21st June as the International Yoga Day. 21st June being the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere holds special significance in many parts of the world. It is believed that Lord Shiva performed the very first transmission of yoga on the first full moon after Summer Solstice. This day is considered a time where you observe natural support for pursuing spiritual practices – the reason why it has been declared as the International Yoga Day.
Moving on to the 5 Easy-to-Practice Yoga Positions for Relieving Stress:
1. Shavasana or the Corpse pose
Shavasana or the corpse pose is a relaxing yoga position. You just need to lie flat on your back, close your eyes, keep your arms and legs comfortable, pay attention to each of your body parts and keep breathing slowly. Submitting yourself to the floor and letting go of everything else for a while will make you feel fully relaxed. This asana lowers your blood pressure, relieves muscle tension and thereby, releases stress.
2. Pranayama or the Yogic breathing
Pranayama is observing your breathing cycle while breathing through each of your nostrils turn by turn. A regular practice of Pranayam effectively calms your mind and makes you feel more positive and energetic. It not only lessens anxiety but also, slows down your heart rate, lowers blood pressure and balances your immune and endocrine systems.
3. Sukhasana or the Sitting pose
Sukhasana, as the name suggests, is a pose that puts no strain on your body and mind. It is a pose that asks you to just simply sit and relax. However, you should ensure that your spine is straight and properly aligned with your neck and head. This simple, easy and pleasing yoga position calms and relaxes your mind and body. It can also be therapeutic for hypertension since it puts no strain on your heart.
4. Balasana or the Child’s pose
Have you ever seen kids relaxing in a fetal position? That’s exactly what Balasana or the child’s pose is. Bend forward stretching and releasing your spine and lower back, relax your head to the floor and keep breathing evenly. This yoga pose is an easy way to free yourself of the unnecessary clutter of thoughts that might be troubling you from long. It normalizes circulation, flushes out toxins that relieve stress and effectively clears away your stress of the day.
5. Paschimottanasana or the Forward bending pose
The forward bending pose of paschimottanasana relieves your arteries from any constraints. It keeps your arteries flexible and facilitates smooth blood flow through them. It is a great pose to practice for reducing stress and it also prevents the risk of heart attacks or heart strokes.
As promised, I just mentioned the very easy-to-practice best yoga positions for relieving stress. You can easily take out 15 minutes from your early morning time to relax and charge your body and mind for the entire day. Regular practice of these positions will make you stronger physically, mentally and spiritually. It is the easiest way to equip your body and soul for dealing with the everyday stress and tension of today’s lifestyle.
Relieve stress and stay happy!
I’ll be coming up with more stress busters (apart from yoga poses :p) in my future posts. So, stay tuned, keep reading, keep sharing and let smiles shine…:)
