Yoga Postures for Anxiety

By Rachel Holmes

I realize that many of our readers are certified yoga teachers with decades of experience and knowledge. The following information may be of more use as a handout for your students. Please feel free to share the following information with your students. I will point out three simple asanas that can be practiced for an anxiety flare up or a full blown attack. There are many additional asanas, mantras and pranayama techniques, but here are three easy asanas for your students to choose from.  

Yoga is an exceptional way to reduce stress, remove anxiety from your body and just to relax, while living a better, more comfortable life. Sometimes, when everything seems to be going the other way and there is so much to worry about, you can't help but become anxious. This is exactly why it is so important to take up yoga. With just a few, simple asanas, you are able to reduce the level of anxiety you feel and you will be that much better when you're all done. 

Pose of a Child

The pose of a child is one of the easiest asanas to do for a person new to asana practice, yet it helps stretch out the back and chest, while it brings a feeling of inner calm to your body and mind. To perform this asana, you rest on your knees with your toes pointing to the back wall. You place your head to the floor and stretch out with your arms toward the forward wall. You don't have to to stretch your arms out as far as you can, as this is just designed to be a comfortable restoring pose and helps relieve some of the stress from your back, chest, and shoulders.

Standing Forward Bend

When you are holding the forward bending asana, you stand with your feet fairly close or touching and your knees slightly bent. You then lean forward and gradually reach your hands down as far as you reasonably can, without pain. If you have problems with flexibility, or are just starting off, it is alright if you can't reach the floor. If you must place your hands around your knees this is perfectly fine. Eventually, with practice, you'll be able to place your hands further without any strain. This asana stretches out the lower back, makes you feel great, and does wonders for your spine.

Legs Up the Wall

Legs up the wall, like the two above-mentioned postures, is relatively easy to do. Once you've learned exactly how to do them correctly in a yoga school, you won't need an instructor to perform the moves at home. Put yourself in a supine position. with your back on the floor and your legs and thighs against the wall. Straighten your back as much as you can and stretch your legs up the wall as far as you can without forcing. This is good for your back, thighs and abdominal muscles. You should be able to feel the stress just start to melt away while you relax in this restorative asana.

These are just three easy yoga postures that should help reduce your overall anxiety levels. You don't have to spend hours a doing this, but if you want to perform the routine before work, you'll feel that much better. 

Side Note For Students

The guidance of proper yoga training with a certified teacher is needed to build a foundational home practice. Additionally, students should be honest with themselves about practicing methods, commitment, and time devoted to the practice. Some students never practice at home. This is fine, but you should attend a few classes per week at your local yoga school. Regular practice will yield the best results.

© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

See yoga videos, demonstrations, and lectures related to inexpensive yoga instructor certification programs and specialized continuing education programs.