10 yoga poses to manage daily stress

We all know that as we get busier, feeling whole-body calm is more difficult. As adrenalin builds and cortisol increases, our bodies are preparing for a major offensive. In stressful times, our body does not know the difference between a real life threatening situation (like a mountain lion charging towards you) versus a perceived stressor (like an upcoming deadline). When we do not give our bodies the care and time to regulate down, pause and rest properly. we begin to experience chronic stress. And chronic stress really isn’t great for our brain and body.

Yoga is a proven tool to help shift yourself into your parasympathetic nervous system, the regulatory nervous system. Your PNS is important to be activated when you’re seeking rest, healing, digestion and reproduction. It’s in this slow downed state that your body can properly function, instead of operating in fight or flight. The more stress we chronically carry, the more our body is inflamed as it fights this invisible stress. As it becomes more inflamed, the immune system is taxed and releases free radicals and free radicals are linked to many, many diseases including mood disorders!

So, it pays to calm down. Truly. Through these 10 simple yoga poses, you can bring about a total mind and body rested state. If you find yourself too amped up or too distracted, try:

1. Creating the right environment. Light a candle, play soft music, dress in comfy clothes. Find a place in your house that feels calming and like a mini sanctuary.

2. Letting off some initial steam. If you can feel the adrenalin pulsing, try first releasing that excess energy. Do some fun dance moves, 20 jumping jacks, push against a wall, or practice tensing and then releasing all of your muscles.

3. Set up your breathing. The entire relaxed state has to start with your breath. Make sure that you are feeling your belly expand on each inhale, moving your breath from your chest into your abdomen. Practice this belly breathing for 3-5 minutes to jumpstart your PNS.

Now you’re ready for 10 Yoga Poses to Manage Daily Stress:

Follow this sequence 3x a week for at least 6 weeks to see a true difference. If you’re finding it hard to commit to this practice or stay in the practice, contact us to schedule an individual session. In an individual session we’ll look at your sleep, diet and emotional patterns to identify where your obstacles are and how to overcome them.

Kerry is the founder of reset brain + body, located in Plymouth, where traditional therapy is elevated through the integration of psychology, yoga and mindfulness. After nearly a decade in corporate human resources in Chicago, Kerry left the field to better help her busy and stressed peers handle life inside and outside of the workplace. Kerry can be found teaching meditation and yoga classes and seeing clients for psychotherapy and yoga therapy at reset brain + body. When she's not at reset brain + body, Kerry can be found spending time exploring her new hometown of Plymouth with her husband, baby boy and dog. Connect with reset brain + body on Instagram & Facebook, check out the class schedule, or contact us to book an appointment.