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. 

Yoga Training: Yogic Fitness Classes

By Lisa Beasley

It doesn't matter what you are taught during your Yoga instructor certification course, some people will always see Yogic practices as a form of exercise that is used to achieve different goals. Some people use it as their main form of exercise. There are numerous types to choose from, ranging from the gentle stretching and low impact of Hatha to the very intense and invigorating Power Yoga. Athletes often rely on Yogic methods as part of their training regimen and as a way to increase flexibility and strength. The bottom line is that anyone, regardless of fitness level, (or lack thereof) can benefit from doing Yoga. A certified Yoga teacher will be able to communicate with his or her class to see what the students are expecting, as well as offer variations on different poses.

Exercising the body, as well as the mind, is a key element in staying healthy. Yoga is a way to combine what is good for the body and connect it to the mind in ways that other forms of exercise simply can’t do. Physically, it can help you to improve your posture and alignment, which can help to reduce aches and pains throughout the body. It can also help to improve balance and flexibility. Yogic techniques are also known to reduce stress levels and contribute to better sleep. Taking care of your body by practicing regularly can help enhance your life in a number of different areas that you may not even be aware of yet.

We already know that fitness and great health cannot be achieved by simply taking a pill or some other type of “quick fix.” Being healthy requires regular exercise and a well-rounded diet, as well as trying to maintain a positive attitude. Yoga training is a simple yet powerful tool that can be used to tie all of that together. Whether you are looking to boost your energy levels, increase your strength or contribute to a positive mental outlook, Yoga can help you achieve many of those goals and more. You can decide on specific goals or let your practice guide you toward what you need. Since there are so many variations within Yoga, there is always room to evolve and grow, physically, mentally, and emotionally. From the meditative low impact forms all the way through the challenges of Hot Yoga, there are certainly enough physical styles to cater to anyone’s fitness needs.

© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

Want to learn more about Yoga and teacher issues? Feel free to visit us at our Google Plus page.