walk your hands out in front of you. Keep your palms flat and your elbows lifted off the floor. As you inhale and exhale, sink your chest and forehead down into the mat and arch your back.
Viparta Karani (Legs-Up-The-Wall)
If you’re stressed or tired, this pose is for you. Sometimes, less is more and that’s exactly what this pose teaches those who practice it. Viparta Karani helps relieve lower back pain, alleviates stress and boosts energy levels.
How to do:
Place your legs up against the wall. If flexibility allows, bring your hips all the way up against the wall. Relax your shoulders and inhale and exhale as you remain in this pose for up to five minutes.
Ananda Balasana (Happy Baby)
Ananda Balasana gently stretches the hips and the back spine, all while calming the brain and helping to relieve stress and fatigue.
How to do:
Lie on your back and grab the outer edges of your feet. Place your elbows inside of your knees as the bottom of your feet face toward the ceiling. Breathe in and out as you pull down on your feet and flatten your lower back. Hold for 30 seconds to one minute
Savasana (Corpse Pose)
Savasana is one of the most challenging poses in yoga simply because this pose really centers on providing your body total relaxation while you focus on your breath. Savasana calms the brain, helps to relieve stress and mild depression as well as reduces tiredness, insomnia and headaches.
How to do:
Lie down onto your back and if you’d like, place a pillow or rolled-up blanket underneath your knees. Make sure that the tip of your nose is pointing directly towards the ceiling. Bring your arms out to your side with your palms facing up. Relax your body, close your eyes and slowly inhale and exhale. Stay here for at least five minutes. When coming out of this pose, slowly roll onto the right side of your body then press yourself up into a comfortable seated position.
The key to de-stressing is realizing how to be present and calm the mind, so if you’re struggling with stress, take about 10 minutes out of your day for some “me” time and try these easy, beginner-friendly yoga poses for stress relief.