7 Calming Yoga Poses To Reduce Anxiety And Find Inner Peace

Yoga For Anxiety: Anxiety often tends to keep the mind active and body stiff, making it a challenge to focus on what is important. In such times, yoga presents a safe and natural medium for releasing the accumulated anxiety. Yoga promotes a ‘healing from within’ mentality; it helps people heal themselves through their bodies. Through conscious, calming yoga poses and regulated breathing, it helps to quiet mental rumination and relieve the discomfort of the body incurred through anxiety. Harvard Health Publishing emphasised breathing and meditation, both of which play a major role in mental health, be it depression or anxiety.

Yoga poses, apart from building strength and flexibility, help to reconnect to inner peace, rebalance and build emotional resilience. Performing yoga for anxiety not only calms the body but also feeds mental well-being, providing an enhanced sense of peace. These positions are slow and soft, which helps people to move at a slower pace, release tension and remain grounded. Here are seven calming yoga poses to reduce anxiety and find inner peace.

Yoga Poses For Anxiety And Depression

Sukhasana

Sit comfortably with crossed legs, keeping the back straight. This pose helps to focus on the breath and align the spine. It's great for calming the mind and preparing for meditation. Sit and breathe and allow the body to relax and help your thoughts settle down.

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Upward-Facing Dog

Lie on your stomach, push up with your hands and lift your chest. This opens up your chest and allows for deeper breathing. It helps to release tension in your back and shoulders. This pose will open up your heart and lungs, letting in fresh air and positive energy.

Downward-Facing Dog

Start on your hands and knees, then lift your hips up. This inverted pose calms your mind and stretches your whole body. It's great for relieving stress and fatigue. You will feel that your body is lengthening and your mind quieting as you hold this pose.

Forward Bend

Stand tall, then bend forward from your hips. This pose stretches the back of your legs and calms your mind. It's a gentle way to release tension and find inner peace. Allow the head hang loose and feel the stretch in your hamstrings.

Yoga Poses For Anxiety And Depression (Image Credits: Canva)

Child’s Pose

Kneel down and fold forward, resting your forehead on the ground. This is a relaxing pose that helps relieve stress. It feels like the pose is giving yourself a gentle hug, allowing the body to rest and recover. It helps the body relax deeply.

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Savasana (Corpse Pose)

Lie flat on your back, with your arms and legs relaxed. This pose calms your nervous system and promotes deep relaxation. It's the final pose in yoga, which allows the body and mind to completely rest. Just breathe and let go of any tension.

These calming yoga poses for anxiety and depression help relax the mind and body. They play a significant part by regulating breathing and making the posture better, which ultimately helps keep a balance between the mind and the body.