We live in a very fast-paced, somewhat chaotic world… it’s so easy to become overwhelmed, stressed out, anxious, etc. The key is recognizing when you’re in these negative states and neutralizing them as quickly and calmly as possible. Therefore, I thought it may be helpful to share with you my top 3 asanas for stress relief. If I ever feel like I can’t catch my breath,  these are my go-to postures. I spend anywhere from 5 – 15 minutes in them.

Puppy Pose

The first posture is called Puppy Pose. Puppy is a great stretch for the shoulders and spine. Personally, when I’m in this pose I feel an overwhelming sense of surrender to the posture; this gives me the ability to let go of any tension or stress I may be carrying. If you’re a beginner, this posture may actually feel quite intense on the shoulders, so take it slow and only go as far as feels good.

Savasana (with legs up the wall)

The ultimate relaxation posture a.k.a. just lay there and do nothing. Stay in Savasana a minimum of 5 minutes and maximum of… however long you need to be there. Really try to feel the ground holding you up, just you against the Earth. My preference when I’m feeling a bit stressed, is Savasana with legs up the wall (but classic Savasana is just as lovely and effective).

Child’s Pose

Out of all 3 of these postures, Child’s Pose is my ultimate go-to. For me personally, this one trumps the others by way of enabling me to find my calm very quickly. I feel safe and protected in this posture and I love to stay in it for upwards of 15 minutes. If it’s more comfortable, you can open your knees and sink your chest down lower. You can even rock your head gently from side to side. Just breathe.

I hope you’ll try these postures sometime when you’re feeling a little bit overwhelmed… I guarantee they won’t do any harm, so it can’t hurt to try. If you have any questions at all, let me know in the comments below, or feel free to send me an email. 🙂

Lots of love, namaste.

Molly xx

Wearing: Tonic Active – use code “Molly20” for 20% off.

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“Yoga has a sly, clever way of short circuiting the mental patterns that cause anxiety.”

– Baxter Bell