Struggling with anxiety? These 10 simple yoga poses may help you

Bhubaneswar:  In today’s world of work and worries, anxiety has turned into a common enemy for almost every other person around us. Be it work or personal life, everyone seems to be struggling with anxiety in their daily lives.

Fortunately, we live in an era of advanced medical science that determines the mental health of people and gives it as much priority as physical health. Several medications and therapies have now been made available for people struggling with anxiety, stress or depression.

Meanwhile, Yoga also has a role to play in helping a person fight anxiety and stress on a daily basis.  All one needs to do is take out a few minutes of their time and practice these ten yoga poses or asanas whenever then get an anxiety attack:

 

• Channel-cleaning breathing – (Nadi Shodhana Pranayama) this simple breathing exercise lowers heart rate, synchronizes both the hemispheres of the brain thus reducing stress and anxiety in a person.

 

• Bridge pose- (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) this pose energizes and rejuvenates the body of a person and helps them calm their mind and fight stress and anxiety.

 

• Extended puppy pose- (Uttana Shishosana) this pose is an amalgamation of child’s pose and downward-facing dog. It stretches the spine, lengthens it and calms the mind, thus easing anxiety in a person.

 

• Extended Triangle pose- (Utthita Trikonasana) is yet another pose that serves therapeutic for stress, anxiety, indigestion, infertility, neck pain, etc.

• Fish pose- (Matsyasana) this pose is known to strengthen the chest, upper back and neck and mobilizes them, hence, calming the mind. However, this pose is not advised for people suffering from migraine, insomnia, serious back or neck injury and high or low blood pressure.

 

• Legs-up-the-wall pose- (Viparita Karani) this pose is believed to heal a person from almost everything that ails them. It serves as a great pain reliever for tired and cramped legs or feet. The gentle yet deep stretch it gives to the back of the neck, legs and the front torso, helps calm the mind, thus, managing anxiety.

 

• Seated forward bend pose- (Paschimottanasana) this pose unwinds a distracted mind and stretches the shoulders, spine and hamstrings. It stimulates kidney, liver and uterus (in women), soothes headache and reduces fatigue.

 

• Staff pose- (Dandasana) as simple as this pose seems, it effectively improves posture, strengthens back muscles and stretches shoulders and chest. It energizes the body thus helps fighting anxiety.

 

• Standing forward bend- otherwise called Uttarasana, this pose benefits a person in several ways. Practicing this pose, calms the brain of a person so s/he could deal better with anxiety, stress and mild depression. It also stretches hips, calves and hamstrings and strengthens thighs and knees.

• Upward Salute/ Palm tree pose- also known as Urdhva Hastasana, this pose helps relieve mild anxiety in people. It also gives a good stretch to belly, armpits and shoulders and improves digestion. It is quite therapeutic for people suffering from asthma, back pain and fatigue.