Practices to Release Stress

Calming down, relaxation, resting are all related to the Parasympathetic Nervous System. So in order to reduce stress, it is important to make friends with your PNS. 

Yoga is universally known to activate your PNS. The yogic breathing or full abdominal breathing is the simplest and fastest way to release tension. 

The practice involves slow long inhalations where your abdomen expands and then the chest expands. The exhalations are longer and ideally double the time taken for inhalations, during breathing out the chest falls followed by the abdomen. 

10 long yogic breaths are the typical prescription to deal with the stressful situations??.

Principally Yoga postures that offer the forward bending of the spine or inversion have a calming effect. The best is the Headstand or Shirshasan. 8 minutes is said to be equivalent to an hour’s deep rest. However, it requires assistance from a trained instructor to learn. 

Shoulder-stand that is Sarvangasan and partial shoulder-stand Viparita Karni are the next choices among postures. Downward facing dog or the Adho Mukha Svanasan, Childs Pose or Balsana, Seated Forward, or Bend Paschimottasan are simple yet effective poses to deal with stress. 

Wind up with simple spinal twists to neutralize the spine and follow with Corpse Pose or Shavasan. 

A yoga-style known as restorative yoga that uses pillows, bolsters, and props to put you onto deeply relaxing poses is highly recommended for those who are finding it very hard to cope with stress.

DM me if you need tips on stress, sleep, or kindling that spark within.