Anxiety Relaxation Techniques: Yoga Techniques that Work

If you live a stressful life then you know the devastating power that anxiety can have on the human condition. According to the National Institute of Mental Health anxiety can change a persons mood, put them on edge, and can cause poor overall health. If you suffer from minor anxiety attacks you can take control of your environment. Use these Anxiety Relaxation Techniques taken directly from the Yoga discipline and you will find your anxiety melting away.

Yoga Poses for Anxiety

1. Child Pose. Spread knees fully on the floor and lean forward so that your belly and thighs touch. Allowing your forehead to touch the ground take comfortable breaths as you stretch your hands palms down to the floor as far out in front of you as possible.

2. Cobra Pose. Lay flat on your stomach and place your palms on your shoulders. Hold your feet together and gently proceed to lift your head and feet off the ground. Make sure you inhale breaths when pushing up and exhale when you go into relaxation.

3. Single/Double Leg Raise. Lay flat on your back with toes pointing up. Raise your right leg straight up as far as you possibly can. Slowly allow your leg to fall back to the floor. Make sure when you are raising your legs that you inhale, and exhale when lowering. Rotate between your right and left legs and doing both right and left legs simultaneously.

Yoga Breathing Techniques
Yoga poses are only useful when the proper breathing techniques are applied. Begin by sitting in the Half Lotus pose which is the common pose created by sitting on the floor with your left leg crossed under your right leg and your palms resting on your knees. Once the Half Lotus position is attained use these two breathing techniques to relieve stress.

1. Alternate Nostril. Inhale through your right nostril only and exhale through your left nostril only. Use your hand to close off the nostrils during inhale and exhale. Take between 5 and 10 seconds inhale and as much time to exhale.

2. Ujjayi. Also known as the victorious breath you can inhale until the lungs are completely full. Hold your breath as long as possible and then exhale slowly. More advanced Ujjayi will incorporate an alternate nostril technique.

Make sure that when you are using these very basic Yoga techniques that you do not strain yourself in any way. These poses are meant to bring focus. For an added benefit make sure and check out a Yoga Nidra CD or download some Yoga music into your Ipod or Mp3 player. Spend 15-20 minutes performing these anxiety relaxation techniques. You can do these Yoga techniques as often as necessary, but for best results make sure that you recognize anxiety approaching and employ these methods before falling prey to your next anxiety attack.