Feature Image by Katee Lue

We all know that yoga is great for your overall health and well-being. However, there are certain flows, poses, and breathing exercises that can help in more specific ways, like easing anxiety. Here are a few yoga poses to try to relax your mind, body, and soul.

Cat/Cow Pose

The combination of the cat and cow pose creates a flow that allows for full, controlled breathing, which will help feel like you’re in control when you feel anything but. Flow through each pose slowly. Inhale during cow pose, and exhale during cat. Do this flow for five full breaths.

Standing Forward Fold

When you’re in an inversion, like this standing forward fold, you’re allowing fresh blood to rush into your head. This causes a cool feeling in the body and can help ease your anxiety and stress while releasing tension in your spine.

Tree Pose

For some people, anxiety can leave you feeling weightless and disconnected to your body. Tree pose will help you feel more grounded as it allows you to plant your foot into your mat. It can help reduce any feelings of uncertainty you may feel.

Eagle Pose

Eagle pose can help distract the mind from anxious thoughts by averting your attention to the balance and your body. Hold the pose for 30 seconds on each side while focusing on your breathing.

Child’s Pose

A quintessential pose in yoga, child’s pose is a great way to feel grounded and comforted. It can help turn your attention back into your body and away from the world. Hold this pose for as long as you want, or just 10 breaths.

Headstand

This may seem like an intimidating pose, but even beginner yogis can master the headstand with the assistance of a teacher or wall. Inversions are perfect for anxiety, as we know, and headstands require so much concentration, it will shift your focus onto your body.

Shoulder Stand

If the headstand pose still seems like too much for you, a shoulder stand is a great way to get started on inversions. This pose will still allow the blood to flow without the fear of falling like a headstand would do.

xx, The FabFitFun Team