Yoga Poses to Help Reduce Stress

Stress can build up over the course of a long day. For many people, it can be difficult to 
find a healthy way to release stress effectively. Yoga has been practiced for more than 
5,000 years, and many yoga poses can reduce high levels of stress as well as anxiety. 
However, some poses promote a peaceful mind more significantly than others, and 
these are some great poses to do when you only have a few minutes of time available 
to practice. To make the most out of the poses, remember to hold the pose for at least 
30 seconds and to breathe deeply. It often helps to close your eyes or to fix your eyes 
on a point in front of you while concentrating on your body and your breathing. 

Cat’s Pose with Cow’s Pose

With the cat’s pose, you will get down on all fours on the floor. You will slowly arch your 
back while dropping your head. Hold this pose for 30 seconds before maneuvering into 
the cow’s pose. With the cow’s pose, lower your back, and lift your head up so that you 
are looking at the ceiling. You can continue to alternate these belly and back 
movements slowly while breathing deeply. Avoid holding your breath as you transition 
your body. 

Child’s Pose

To get into child’s pose, sit on your bended knees with your arms raised overhead and 
your hands joined. Bend your torso forward until your hands and head touch the ground 
while keeping your knees on the ground. You can hold this position for at least 30 
seconds. Some people move between the child’s pose and the cat’s pose slowly, 
enjoying the unique stretches that both poses provide.

Extended Puppy Pose

This pose is very similar to child’s pose, but it stretches different muscles. Rather than 
sitting on your haunches as you do when getting into the child’s pose, you stand on your 
knees. Then, you raise your hands overhead before leaning your upper body toward the 
ground. With child’s pose, your rear end will rest on your feet. With extended puppy 
pose, your rear end will be in the area while your arms are stretched as far in front of 
you on the ground as possible. 

Each of these poses provide you with excellent stress-reducing benefits. You can sink 
into each pose more fully with each deep breath that you take. Allow your mind to focus 
on your body and your breathing. Avoid rushing through the poses simply to be done 
with them, and instead, feel the tension melt away. Remember that it only takes a few 
minutes to enjoy the stress-relieving benefits that these poses can provide to you.

