5 easy yoga poses to help you deal with holiday stress

Christmas is approaching, a time of family, reunions, reunions, lottery… And with this time of year, the stress increases. If I don’t have time to buy presents, what will I cook for Christmas Eve dinner, the kids are out of school, Christmas dinner at the in-laws’ or at my parents’?

Everything is intense and there is so much going on in such a short time. There comes a time when you can’t take it anymore, when the situation is beyond you, and when it’s time to stop and breathe before you end up exhausted.

Yoga can give you the emotional stability you need and the break that will help you regulate stress. Besides activating your body and giving your mind a break, yoga works with the breath, such an important element in our daily lives that we don’t pay much attention to. All you need is a mat or a firm surface.

Here are five yoga postures (with their Sanskrit and English names) that are very easy to perform, but have many benefits for your physical and mental health. These particular postures aim to release the emotions and balance the body. You can do them at home, in sequence or separately. There is also no risk of injury, as they are designed for beginners and can be done at your own pace, without straining your body.

Child’s Pose (Balasana)

Child’s pose is perfect for calming the nerves and requires no more effort than kneeling on the floor, feet together behind, forehead resting on the mat, and hands and arms stretched forward. . This is an ideal resting posture for gently stretching the spine, ankles, knees and hips. You can hold this position for as long as you want, even for five minutes. The trick is to control your breathing, still through your nose, by inflating your lungs, holding your breath for a few seconds and slowly releasing the air through your nose. There is another variation in which the arms are placed behind the body and it is just as effective, do whichever is easier for you.

Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

The downward facing dog is essential in any yoga sequence. You should stand on the mat with your hands flat on the floor and your feet back, hip-width apart. Your body should form a V reversed and you should push up, without straining your knees, while maintaining a relaxed breath. This pose helps stretch your shoulders and spine, gives you another perspective on the world, and clears your mind. You can keep it as long as you want.

Tree Pose (Vrikshasana)

Now it’s time to regain an upright position. Stand on both feet together, straight as a stick, but without forcing the natural curvature of the lower back. The tree pose is an asana of balance, which connects you to the earth and the sky at the same time. In this upright position, raise one of your feet and let it rest on your calf or your calf (not the knee), whichever is more comfortable for you. Now, keeping your balance, raise your arms and bring your palms together above your head or in front of your chest. The trickiest part of this pose is keeping your balance while controlling your breath. Try it as many times as you want until you feel comfortable on both sides of your body for several seconds.

Seated Clamp Pose (Paschimottanasana)

This pose is very easy to perform and helps release tension in the legs and lower back. Sit on the floor, stretch your legs together and try to touch the tips of your toes. Go as far as you can, don’t force yourself, you’re looking to relax, not stress. Listen to your body, close your eyes for a few minutes in this posture taking a few deep breaths and clearing your mind.

Corpse Pose (Savasana)

Although it looks a little spooky, the corpse pose is perfect for relaxing the whole body and doing nothing, like a corpse. Lie on the mat, straighten your legs, drop your feet to either side, and extend your arms parallel to your torso. Close your eyes and just enjoy being and not To do“, without tension. Be aware of ground contact and take the opportunity to do a body scan if you wish. Hold this pose for as many minutes as needed.

You can perform these poses whenever and wherever you want.

You can use this yoga sequence whenever you need a break for yourself. You decide how long you practice and how long you want to stay in each asana or posture. If the moment you’re living takes over, consider starting a meditative practice to help you connect with yourself and take a deeper break. And remember, breathe.