HOW DOING YOGA FOR STRESS CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER

Doing Yoga for stress is an amazing way to balance your mental health.

(Yoga…balance…get it?)

Yoga is so much more than just a form of exercise; it’s also a calming, meditative practice that can clear your mind and help to re-center yourself in the middle of a hectic or stressful day.

You’ll find that a few minutes of Yoga is all it takes to restore a sense of control to even the most out-of-control circumstances, and the rush of endorphins you get makes for one heck of an amazing mental and physical boost.

Below, we’ll dive into some of the best reasons to do Yoga for stress, as well as which Yoga poses are most effective for de-stressing.

The Many Benefits of Yoga for Stress Management

Here are some of the ways that Yoga can help to alleviate and manage your stress:

• Focus on your breathing. Yoga practice involves controlled, regulated breathing, which does wonders to keep you focused on the poses as well as clears out your mind. You see, focusing on your breathing has a sort of self-hypnotic effect that will push all other unwanted, stressful thoughts from your mind. The more you pay attention to your breath, the less space there is in your head for anything else.

• Meditation practice. Yoga is often paired with meditation, either a guided meditation or simply meditative practices that focus your mind on your internal sensations. Meditation has been scientifically proven to be incredible for relieving stress and anxiety, and can calm your mind while giving your body a real boost.

• Better sleep. Thanks to the circulation-improving, hormone-regulating, and calorie-burning effects of Yoga, you’ll find that you sleep far better every night. Not only will you be less stressed physically, but your mind will be clearer and less prone to anxious thoughts that keep you tossing and turning at night.

• Lower cortisol levels. Cortisol, the stress hormone, can interfere with your normal bodily functions in many ways—from your hormone balance to your nervous system function to your heart and brain health. But Yoga does wonders to reduce cortisol, not only mitigating its effects, but actually reducing its presence by relaxing your body and lowering the feelings of stress. The result is exponentially better health overall!

• Reduced muscle tension. By improving your posture and balance, Yoga does wonders to reduce the muscle tension throughout your entire body. When you have improper posture or poor balance in certain parts of your body (for example, your knees, lower back, ankles, etc.), other parts of your body have to compensate, and this leads to greater muscle tension and increased wear on your joints. But thanks to the posture-enhancing benefits of Yoga, you’ll move more smoothly and naturally, leading to less strain on your muscles and joints.

• Better fitness. Being fit is actually quite excellent for your mental health! Not only do you have more energy (thanks to a faster metabolism), but you have a sense of peace knowing that you are making healthy choices and living right. You’ll find that improving your fitness with daily Yoga workouts combats stress and anxiety incredibly effectively.

These are just the main benefits of Yoga, and the truth is that there are so many more—all great reasons to start practicing Yoga today!

Yoga for Stress: Stress-Relieving Poses to Try Today

Using Yoga for stress management is an amazing way to benefit from both the physical and mental effects of the exercise, meditation, and breathing practice. Here are some of the best Yoga poses to give you that stress relief you need:

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  Cat-Cow Pose – This combination of two poses is an amazing stretch for your entire spine, and it can do wonders to loosen up tension in your lower and middle back. You’ll move more easily, experience less pain, and help your body to relax more effectively by improving circulation.

• Downward Dog – All the inversion poses (upside down) help to stimulate blood flow throughout your body, which in turn sends a flood of oxygen and nutrients to all of your muscles, organs, tissues, and your brain. Poses like Downward Dog can have a very calming effect on your mind while working your muscles effectively.

• Child’s Pose – This pose will elongate your spine, stretch your shoulders, neck, and arms, and help you focus on your breath control. It’s an incredibly easy pose that anyone can perform, and it’s also very relaxing. Spend a few minutes every day in this pose, and you’ll find that you feel exponentially calmer and more at peace.

• Happy Baby Pose – This is yet another relaxing pose that allows you to focus on your breathing, but it also helps to open up your hips, which are likely tight and stiff from a day spent sitting down. It’s worth spending a few minutes practicing this pose every day to encourage better flexibility and hip mobility.

Leg Up the Wall – Not only is this pose amazing for improving circulation to your legs, but it also helps to enhance the feelings of relaxation in your upper body and mind. Spend a few minutes in this pose before going to bed, and your legs will be far less prone to restlessness and discomfort.

Manage Your Stress the Right Way with Get Yoga Lean

If you need help managing your stress, Get Yoga Lean is just what you want. It’s a Yoga-based fitness program that encourages both real, visible weight loss and game-changing mental health improvements through daily Yoga practice. You’ll find that incorporating our workouts into your day will lead to better health and more peace of mind, thanks to the meditative and exercise benefits of Yoga. You will become living proof that Yoga for stress management absolutely works!