List of 5 Yoga Poses to Cure Anxiety & Stress

“YOU CANNOT ALWAYS CONTROL WHAT GOES ON OUTSIDE, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTROL WHAT GOES ON INSIDE YOU.”

Yoga is an art, yoga is a science, Or perhaps it is a profession, different people have different opinions about yoga. But one thing that we all have in common is that it is one solution to many problems. Yoga is defined as a spiritual and ascetic discipline that includes breathing exercises, self-meditation, and the adoption of specific body postures. Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual activities which where originated in ancient India and still practiced by people. It is a combination of various principles and asanas which together form complete yoga that leads you towards inner peace and self-love.

The origin of yoga can be traced long back in the past, as history states it to be 5000 years ago when it was mentioned in the Rig Vedas for the first time. But it is also said to have its foundation from Patanjali. Yoga is very important for life and so are its limbs. There are eight limbs of yoga, which create the entire base of yoga and its various practices, these are as follows:

1.Yama which means abstinences

2. Niyama meaning observances

3.Asana is yoga postures

4.Pranayama is the breath control

5.Pratyahara means withdrawal of the senses

6. Dharana is the concentration

7.Dhyana means meditation

8.Samadhi is absorption.

Yoga is a practice that benefits the human body mentally as well as physically. Yoga is essential in life as it is believed that the practice of yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness and universal consciousness. If we count on the advantages of yoga, the list is very long. As yoga boosts your energy, increases flexibility, helps with weight loss, builds self-confidence and self-reliance, brings discipline in life and the list is never-ending. There are various Asanas in yoga, different body postures that are important for the mental, physical and spiritual growth of the human body. There are various Asanas in yoga that are very helpful for human beings to cure various diseases.

One such problem faced by people these days is stress. With these advanced technologies and busy schedules, people have no time for themselves and they become a victim of hypertension and stress which can lead to anxiety and various other serious illnesses which cannot be cured even by heavy medications. But what nothing can do, yoga makes it possible. Yoga helps well with anxiety, stress, and other problems of hypertension with the help of various asanas. So here is the list of various Yoga poses to cures anxiety and stress.

1. BALASANA

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Balasana is also known as child pose is similar to Child resting posture. It is a kneeling asana which is a part of modern yoga exercise. Balasana is generally practiced before Or after performing Sirsasana, it is also a counter asana for various other asanas. Balasana is an excellent yoga pose to cure anxiety and stress. As it strengthens your meditating power, calms your mind, and releases the stress. It also stretches and strengthens your hips, thighs, and ankles. It is also beneficial for your lymphatic system and nervous system. Balasana gives relief from neck and back pain. It is among the top asanas in the list of yoga poses to cure anxiety and stress, if you are also undergoing any such problem balasana is one of the best asanas to go for.

Steps to perform Balasana are as follows:

• On a yoga mat or floor sit on your knees. You can either keep your knees together or apart.
• Slowly, bend forward by lowering your forehead to touch the floor, exhaling as you do so.
• Keep your arms alongside your body. Make sure that your palms are facing up.
• Alternatively, you can reach out your arms towards the front of the yoga mat, palms placed facing down on the mat.
• Now that you are in this pose, gently press your chest on the thighs.
• Hold your breath for 45 seconds to 1 minute. When you inhale, pull your navel towards your spine.
• While you exhale soften your body and arms, repeat the same for 4-12 breaths then relax.
• Pregnant women, people suffering from diarrhea or any knee injury are advised not to practice this asana.

2. SUKHASANA

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Sukhasana is also known as the easy pose is a very simple cross-legged sitting pose, which is apart of hatha yoga. It is used for meditation in various religions. Sukhasana lengthens your spine and opens your hips. It works wonderfully with curing anxiety and stress. It is an excellent yoga pose to cure anxiety and stress, as it calms you down and helps in eliminating anxiety, also reduces mental and physical exhaustion.

Steps to perform Sukhasana are as follows:

• Sit on the yoga mat with legs stretched out in front of you and keep your spine straight. Place the hands on the thighs with elbows bent and take a few breaths.
• Inhale and fold the legs. Fold the right foot under the left thigh. And fold the left foot under the right thigh.
• Cross the legs at the mid shins, and not at your ankles. Your pubic bone and the cross of your shins should be in one line.
• Keep your ankles flexed a little so that your feet are on their outside edges, perpendicular to the floor.
• Keep the head, neck, and back straight, then draw your abdomen softly inward and upward.
• Place the hands on the knees or place your palm close to the navel.
• Stay here and focus from the center of your body, which is the navel, and raising the back and the spine upwards and belly inwards and upwards. Remain for as long as the pranayama practice demands or as per the comfort of the body.
• Slowly relax the back and bring the legs stretched out in front of you and relax for a few seconds.

3. ANANDA BALASANA

Ananda Balasana is also known as happy child pose is a yoga asana that helps to cure anxiety and stress. It helps you calm yourself, releases your stress, and helps you get rid of fatigue and

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stress, it also controls hypertension as it smoothly stretches your spine and ground.

Steps to perform Ananda Balasana are as follows:

• Lie flat on your back and hold your big toe with your hand.
• Tuck your chin into your chest and make sure your head is touched on the floor.
• Press the tailbone and the sacrum down to the floor while you press your heels up, and pull back with your arms.
• Press both sides of your back and shoulders down to the floor.
• Hold the pose for 30 seconds to 1 minute and breath normally.
• Exhale slowly and release your arms and legs, lie on the floor for a few seconds and relax.

4. PASCHIMOTTANASANA

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Paschimottanasana is a seated forward bend yoga pose that works well to cure anxiety and stress.  This asana stretches your spine,  hamstring, and lower back. This asana releases your stress, controls anxiety, and hypertension, also it helps in digestion, and provides ease with the symptoms of PMS.

5. UTTANASANA

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Uttanasana is a standing forward bend yoga pose that helps well to cure anxiety and stress. It calms your brain stimulates your kidney and liver. Uttanasana relieves mild depression and controls anxiety. Also, it strengthens your knees and stretches your hips.

Steps to perform Uttanasana are as follows:

• Bring your body weight a little bit forward to your feet. So that your hips stay over your ankles.
• Let your head hang and inhale then place your hands on your hips.
• Press your tailbone down and contract your abdominal muscles as you rise slowly.
• Hold the pose for a few seconds and then slowly release your body and relax.

In a time of drought like the world is facing these days in the form of a Pandemic named COVID-19, yoga is like the heavy rain that is a sign of relief for every individual. Studies prove that the regular practice of yoga has benefited people a lot. Though the role of  PPE kits during COVID-19, Face Masks, Sanitizers, is also an essential one. As it helped our not our worries but also the common public to step out of their homes and bring their life back to normal. But it is not enough to fight back any such situation and also to benefit oneself physically and mentally yoga is very important.

Above mentioned are various yoga poses that help to cure anxiety and stress. Therefore practicing yoga is important in life to stay fit. Yoga is all about benefits, it’s like all gain and no pain. As it keeps you physically fit and healthy. Yoga is not only a practice it is an art of learning, but it also keeps you physically fit and mentally healthy.  So keep practicing yoga, allocating new paths in life, and keep finding the new self. As yoga is not only about touching your head to toe but it is also about what you learn on the way down. It is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.