We all have surely experienced stress in one way or another. But how do you handle stress? There is a great saying, ‘It is not stress that kills us, but it is our reaction to it. It is true and if you are doing nothing to kill your stress then you are killing yourself.

So have you ever thought about the best remedy to be free from stress? Yoga has proved to be one of the effective and best methods to prevent stress. So in this article, we are going to give you the best outline of the effects of yoga to get relief from stress.

How can yoga relieve stress?

As we all know, yoga is a spiritual, mental, and spiritual practice that reduces stress, mental tension, and anxiety. But how can we become stress-free by practicing yoga? Yoga includes certain body positions called ‘mudras’ which increases flexibility and eases mental pain.

Yoga also helps us in releasing muscle knots, promoting mood-boosting endorphins. Endorphins are useful hormones that positively affect how you handle stress. Yoga also involves focusing which enhances concentration and boosts awareness.

As you achieve physical, mental, and sensational control over your body; it becomes easy for you to ignore the pain and stressful moments that happened in the past. It also allows you to concentrate on your present and cultivate joy and peace.

Many kinds of research and studies show that women who continuously practiced yoga had a strong decline in levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. These studies also show that yoga can be a good remedy to many health conditions and helps in decreasing the need for medicines.

Do breathing exercises help with stress?

Yes. Breathing exercises help a lot in dealing with stress. Breathing exercises are also a fundamental key in yoga. In yoga, the breathing exercise is called ‘pranayama. It helps us to control, concentrate and regulate our breathing.

By doing breathing exercises regularly you can deal with anxiety and stress, calm your body and soul, enhance the quality of sleep, and uplift mindfulness. You can practice breathing exercises along with yoga or at times where you need to focus on relaxation.

There are many types of pranayama in yoga. Some of them are:

1. Alternate nostril breathing
2. Humming bee breath
3. Lion’s breathe
4. Breath of fire
5. Ujjayi breathing
6. Sitali breath

Which type of yoga is best for stress relief?

Now, coming to our main subject of discussion. Let us familiarize ourselves with some of the best yoga poses which are good for relieving stress.

1. Marjaryasana to Bitilasana

Marjaryasana to Bitilasana, also known as the cat-cow movement, allows you to connect your breath to your movement. This ‘asana’ is very useful for those suffering from stress and anxiety. 

Now let us see the steps to do this asana

1. Start by making your body in tabletop position
2. Place your knees under your shoulders 
3. Hold your knees under your hips
4. Inhale slowly and lift your head so that you can see the ceiling
5. Allow your belly to move towards the floor
6. This is known as the cow pose
7. Now exhale slowly
8. As you exhale, move your chin towards your chest
9. Bend your spine towards the ceiling
10. This is known as the cat pose
11. Continue practising these two poses alternately

2. Balasana

Balasana or child pose helps to create focus and energy. It also provides mental and physical relaxation. Now let us see the steps for doing balasana. 

1. Start from a kneeling position
2. Place your knees close or apart
3. Now sit on your knees without changing the position
4. Fold forward by keeping your hips steady
5. Rest your forehead on the mat while continuing the position
6. Extend your arms in front of you
7. Sink your torso into your thighs
8. Breathe deeply and focus 
9. Hold this pose for about 3-5 minutes

3. Savasana 

While doing Savasana or the corpse pose, focus on your breathing and let go of all the tensions and thoughts. The steps to do Savasana are as follows

1. Lie flat on your back 
2. Adjust your body position such that your feet are wider than your hips
3. Place your arms next to your body at about a 45 degree
4. Make sure to align your head, neck and shoulders with your spine
5. Breathe slowly and concentrate
6. Allow your body to relax fully
7. Stay in this pose for about 20-30 minutes

How can I calm myself up in yoga?

Yoga can be effective when you calm your body and mind at the same time. Moreover, yoga becomes medicine for removing your anxiety if you practice daily. Also, you can calm yourself in yoga if you follow the elements such as:

1. Breathing
2. Physical movement
3. Meditation
4. Stretching 
5. Mental imagery

Moreover, everyone has stress in one way or another. We can only get out of stress by following proper methods like yoga to solve it. If you have any doubts and queries about the ways to reduce stress by yoga, consult a yoga trainer as soon as possible.