Yoga has so many helpful benefits. Some use it for exercise, some for spiritual benefits, and some rely on it as a stress reliever. With so many horror stories in the news these days about prescription pill dependency and other forms of addiction, finding alternative solutions for stress relief is essential. Many people look to yoga and are happy they did.
The core idea of yoga as a stress reliever is how it forces you to focus on one thing at a time. Stress and panic attacks usually stem from the mind thinking of too many negative thoughts at the same time and the combined effect is detrimental. As one is practicing yoga, focusing on the breath is all that matters. This act of focus allows us to decompress and let those negative feelings melt away without even realizing it.
( Ensure to take your yoga practice outside, that adds to the stress-relieving benefits. Also, if you like these yoga leggings, shop them here. )
Some poses serve this purpose more than others. For example, the child’s pose is perfect for helping to calm the mind. It is also great for the nervous system and the lymphatic system, making it a truly restorative pose. The standing forward bend is often used as a transition move due to its calming nature, but it can also be held longer. Reversing the blood flow by leaning forward does wonder for the body, and the bent-over nature has a calming effect on the body.
However, there are also poses that assist with stress relief but also look to empower and to awaken instead of to calm. The eagle pose is a great stress stopper since it takes a lot of concentration and balance to hold for long periods of time. It almost feels like you are squeezing the stress out of your body while holding it, and moving out of it can really help someone feel empowered.
Certain people deal with stress differently, and certain days are harder than others. If some simple yoga poses are not working, try out a more vigorous class. The intensity and distracting nature of a hot yoga class might be just what you are looking for.
Yoga can be a great substitution for a lot of the negative things in our life that we use as a crutch to deal with stress. The next time you feel stressed out, don’t pick up that cigarette, piece of chocolate, or cocktail! Find some space for yourself, and cycle through some stress-reducing yoga poses. Let the world melt away, and focus on the breath going in and out of your lungs.
The practice of focusing on your breath will come in handy when you are not always able to do yoga. Quick meditation/breathing exercises can work perfectly when you do not have space or the time to do yoga.
If you have a consistent yoga teacher, let him/her know that you want to use yoga and meditation as ways to remove stress from your life. He/she will have helpful tips and can also find a perfect mantra for you to focus on. Many find that by focusing on this word or mantra while practicing yoga and meditation, they can stir up those similar emotions when they focus on that mantra later.
