Life constantly spends us in circles and we are always looking for ways to unwind. Over the past years I found myself working in Corporate America, The Beauty Industry and most recently unemployed living an Entrepreneur lifestyle. Although the latter sounds amazing and is everyone’s dream, it comes with tons of work, sacrifice and stress. I recall over 14 years ago when I first started my yoga journey and I never imagines that it would one day in my future become my saving grace to eliminate stress. Yoga is an amazing way to help you relax, de-stress and tone your body all at the same time. Leave the myth at the door that you must be a certain size to do yoga because that is not true. Its a mind thing and everyone can take a few minutes out to do a few easy poses that will help relieve your stress. Always remember that yoga is not a competition but a great practice. Its imperative that you take your time and progress at your own pace. Here are 5 easy poses to get you started:
Sukhasana (Easy Pose)
The Easy Pose has amazing benefits and aids in promoting your inner calmness. The Sukhasana pose helps open your hips, lengthens your spine, amplifies the state of serenity, tranquility, and eliminates anxiety.
Balasana (Child’s Pose)
The Child’s Pose works as an amazing variation pose to the supported head stand (which I’m still working on). This pose is rather easy. All you need to do is sit on your knees and bend forward with your arms stretched by your side or on your side. Rest your forehead on your mat. This pose helps relieve anxiety and is a perfect resting pose during and after a long practice.
Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)
This is one of my favorite poses. The Paschimottanasana helps me rest my over thinking mind. This pose provides you the following benefits: stretches the spine, lower back an hamstrings. I also use this pose for relieving fatigue and PMS.
Marjaryasana (Cat Pose)
I often wake up with lower back pain and the Cat Pose is by far my favorite pose. This particular pose provides a very gentle massage to your spine and belly organs while acting as a powerful stress buster. I pair this pose with the Cow Pose (see below). Marjaryasana also benefits overall health by stimulating the digestive tract and spinal fluid.
Bitilasana (Cow Pose)
The Cow Pose is an easy way to warm up your spine. I pair this pose with the Cat Pose to get the maximum spinal stretch. This pose aids in relieving stress and calming your mind. I normally do this pose first thing in the morning to get my back and spine warmed up.
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