Stress-Busting Yoga Poses

Stress-Busting Yoga Poses

12.01.11
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Cobra

Laying on your yoga mat, place your hands flat on the floor just below the shoulders. Slowly life your head and push your chest away from the floor, while keeping the elbows close to the body. Be sure to keep your pelvis and thighs resting on the floor. Without straining your neck, direct your gaze up toward the sky.

Benefits: The cobra pose increases flexibility of the spine, stretches abdominal muscles, and can help prevent back pain. The pose puts gentle pressure on the abdomen and massages internal organs.

Tree

While standing, place one foot against the inner thigh of the opposite leg. With hips centered forward, the raised leg should be open to the side. With palms pressed together, bring your hands to the center of your chest – this is known as the Namaste position.

Benefits: If you can perfect the tree pose, you will improve your balance and posture, and strengthen your thighs, calves, ankles and spine.

Warrior

Place your feet just beyond shoulder width apart. Raise both arms parallel to the floor and gaze over your right shoulder. Turn your right foot out 90 degrees to the right and bend the knee, being sure to keep the knee above the ankle.

Benefits: Just like any real warrior, this pose strengthens your abdominal muscles, arms and legs. Opens the chest and the groin area. As you begin to hold the pose longer, your stamina will also increase.

Lotus

To perfect this pose, while seated, cross your legs and rest your feet on your thighs, with the soles facing up. If you’re not quite flexible enough to fully cross your legs, try placing the soles of your feet together in a seated position. Keep the spine straight and place your hands on your knees or rest them in your lap.

Benefits: Lotus pose is generally calming and relaxing, and can also improve posture and increase general awareness of the mind and body.

Triangle

Place your legs beyond shoulder-width apart and extend your arms straight out at your sides. With your body facing forward, rest your left hand on your left ankle, calf, or on the floor outside of the left ankle. Reach your right hand up straight. Keep your spine straight, open your chest and turn your gaze up toward your right hand.

Benefits: The triangle post is a great way to stretch the entire body. It stretches the back, hamstrings, hips and arms, and opens the chest. In time, triangle pose will boost your coordination, balance and flexibility.

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