Yoga For Stress Relief

Dating back over 5000 years, yoga is considered by many to be the oldest defined practice of self-development.Many studies have found that a little yoga in the morning, at night, or even on a lunch break, can minimise stress and increase productivity. It is believed that yoga is extremely effective for stress relief because, aside from the physical benefits yoga brings, it encourages a good mood (YAY for happy savasana vibes), increases mindfulness, and is a healthy dose of self-compassion.

Prolonged stress takes its toll physically, emotionally and mentally and can affect everything from sleep, digestion and our relationships. Yoga practiced in the right way can be as soothing as a hug when it comes to reducing tension and relaxing the body.Certain postures have a deeply calming effect on the whole system, especially forward folding poses. Restorative and Yin yoga are great styles for practicing the art of letting go, as is savasana/relaxation at the end of the yoga class. Yoga emphasises breathing and a focus on the mind/body/spirit connection, which yields strong emotional benefits. People who practice yoga regularly report that they sleep better and feel less stressed.

When we are stressed out or anxious, the mind becomes busy. Learning to focus the mind on one thing at a time may seem like the most difficult thing in the world, however with practice, it becomes easier.

Meditation is an amazing tool to help cope with stress and anxiety as it is the practice of becoming aware of the breath. Whether you are holding postures, flowing through sequences, or in a seated meditation pose, everything begins to focus and slow down when you begin to become aware of the breath.