Ten Stress Relieving Yoga Poses

Yoga has become a fitness wave. Ironically, however, yoga is anything but a new fad. Instead, the ancient Hindu practice has been around for years, and it has a very simple philosophy: bring true clarity to the mind and balance to the body. Realizing the direct and irrefutable connection between the mental and the physical, yoga encourages the person to release his soul, focus on deep, undisturbed breathing, and concentrate on the positivity bottled up within the body. And while some yoga can reach extremes in relation to fitness and muscle strengthening, the most basic principles of this discipline find their roots planted firmly in a set of core positions, ones that bring the body and mind together in a state of peace.

So, if you are looking to take the edge off the holiday stress, the difficulties at work, or just the general anxiety life can offer, unearth your escape in the following ten yoga positions. As with any fitness routine, form, function, and consistency are what yield results, thus make certain you give your yoga practice quality time that exists as quiet and alone. Give yourself every chance to withdraw momentarily from life and enjoy what you already own but have yet to truly discover.

1. Balasana or Child's Pose: One of the most fundamental and relaxing yoga positions, child's pose allows for complete muscle release, as your body should virtually melt into the floor, and it is commonly used during a full yoga session as a respite between more strenuous moves. While in a kneeling position, part your feet slightly, lay your body down so that your buttocks rests on your heels and your entire torso is between your thighs with your head resting facedown on the floor. With your arms you can do one of two things: stretch them out ahead of you as far as you can or place them next to your body with your palms facing up. Hold this pose for up to three minutes and relax deeply into it. Nothing in your body should be tense or constricted.
2. Savasana or Corpse Pose: Normally used as the final pose in a yoga session because it encourages complete relaxation, corpse pose allows the body to recline and stretch and the mind to reflect and meditate. Lie on your back with your arms at your side, palms up. Pretend to become one with the floor, relaxing your neck and back entirely. Breathe slow and deep, and consciously try to empty your mind.
3. Sukhasana or Easy position: A basic pose that encourages you to emphasize slow, proper breathing, sukhasana forces you into strong posture and refreshing body alignment. Keeping your spine perfectly straight, sit cross-legged and rest your hands on your knees. Place your weight directly down, encouraging your sitting bones to sink into the floor, and let your knees fall open. Take 10 to 15 slow breaths, raising your hands over your head on the final one. Exhale and return your arms to your knees. Repeat.
4. Tadasana or Mountain: A simplistic pose that, on the outside, can be seen as meaningless, mountain enhances balance and self-awareness while getting you to concentrate on your breathing and state of mind. With your feet together, hands at your sides, and eyes looking forward, spread your toes wide, feeling your entire foot making contact with the floor. Slide your hips forward slightly and raise the chest. Straighten your neck by pushing the base of your skull towards the ceiling, and stretch your fingers down toward the floor, all the while pressing your feet to the floor and lengthening your legs. Breath deeply, imagining the breathe going through your entire body. Hold this pose and repeat the breathing 5 to 10 times. On your next inhale, raise your arms and stretch them high above your head. Hold this posture for several breaths, then return to the previous position.
5. Bhujangasana or Cobra: A full body stretch position, Cobra seeks to spread the chest wide and open the heart. Resting flat on your stomach with your legs straight behind you, keep your arms in close to your body, hands near your chest. On an inhale, push upwards with your arms, sending your shoulder and chest as high as possible. Raise the chin slightly and push your hips into the ground. Keep your chest out and try to expose your heart. Breathe several times before returning to the original position.
6. Vrksasana or Tree Pose: From a standing position with your big toes touching, clear your mind and breathe. Pressing down into the floor through your feet and establish a strong base. Slowly shift your weight onto your right leg and lift your left leg off the floor. Bend the left leg and place the sole of the foot as high as possible on your inner right thigh. Keep your hips square to the front and hold your hands in prayer position. If you struggle to stay balanced, focus your eyes on something stationary. After several breaths, bring the left foot to the floor, recollect yourself, and repeat on the left leg.
7. Dandasana or Staff Pose: Done from a seated position and meant to help you regain proper mind and body alignment, staff pose is the position from which all other postures originate. Begin by sitting on the floor and stretching your legs out in front of you. Tighten the thigh muscles and stretch your toes upwards and slightly back towards you, working to keep your heels on the floor. Place your hands on the floor directly at your sides, elongate your spine, and insure your shoulders are exactly above your hips. Eyes and chin should be forward and level.
8. Supta Buddha Konasana or Goddess Pose: Done from a supine position laying flat on the floor, Goddess Pose opens the groin and relaxes the hips. From the supine posture, slide your knees toward your hips, keeping your feet squarely on the floor. Allow your knees to fall to the sides and bring the soles of your feet together. Let the weight of your legs pull the knees to the floor, but keep the feet together. Your arms should be flat on the floor with the palms of your hands up. Remain in the position for several minutes.
9. Baddha Konasana or Cobbler's Pose: Beginning in staff pose, slide your feet together and toward your groin, letting your knees fall to the sides. Tucking the heels as close to the groin as possible and pressing the outside edges of the feet together firmly, elongate the spine and keep your chin and eyes forward. Breathe deeply as usual and hold this position. Empty your mind and concentrate.
10. Ananda Balasana or Happy Baby Pose: Designed to release tension in the lower back and stretch the hamstrings, Happy Baby Pose is done from a supine position. Start by laying flat on your back and drawing your knees into your chest. Push the knees outwards toward the arms pits and raise your feet exactly over your shoulders, working to keep your hips and lower back engage with the floor. Reach out and hold the outside edges of your feet and draw the knees toward the floor.

All of the above poses can de-stress your life. Take the time to involve small yoga sessions in your daily life. In the end, you will have a greater quality of life, as you learn to breathe, focus, and see all that is positive about your life. Take the chance to engage with yourself rather than continually reacting to the hectic world that surrounds you virtually all day. Place yourself first, at least for a few sacred moments, and you'll find that all the stress and difficulty you felt before was never really that bad. You hold the answers to your happiness, and all you have to do is look inside to find them.