As the holidays approach we naturally indulge. Nothing quite says “Merry Christmas” like stuffing an entire beef summer sausage down your throat and swallowing a cupful of warm eggnog. But that’s just for your uncle’s slutty new girlfriend who walked right off the stage at the local strip club and into your family dinner.
We crave it comfort food and then hate ourselves for it later. We begin to stress so much that by, the time it’s all over, you are ready for a fresh start into the New Year. Well I am here to help you through it so “you can have your cake and eat it too, ” no pun intended.
I’ve created a list of my favorite Top 5 Yoga Poses That Decrease Stress.
1. Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana):
Extended Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana) is like the perfect combination of Downward Dog and Child’s Pose, and can be used as a variation of either. Also referred to as Melting Heart Pose, this posture quite literally invites the heart to melt down toward the ground, stretching the spine in both directions.
2. Dolphin Pose
Dolphin both opens and strengthens the upper body, making it a great preparation for inversions or a nice substitute posture when you’re not ready to fly your legs above your head. Whether you practice Dolphin to get comfortable with the idea of turning upside down or you practice it as a prelude to Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Balance), Dolphin’s virtues are numerous. With continued practice, you’ll experience greater range of motion in your spine and shoulders and build strength in your arms and core while getting accustomed to the idea of bearing weight on your hands, arms, and upper body.
3. Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)
In Sanskrit, “ut” means intense, “tan” means to stretch or extend and “asana” means pose. In English, we call this pose the Standing Forward Bend. But, in any language, this incredibly beneficial posture is both therapeutic and revitalizing. In Uttanasana, your head is below your heart. This allows the unusual occasion for blood to rush to your head (rather than your feet), giving your cells a rejuvenating boost of oxygen.
4. Eagle Pose (Garudasana)
Do you remember the game Twister? Practicing Garudasana (Eagle Pose) is like playing a solitaire version of Twister. You twist and stretch and wrap your limbs around each other, until you can barely tell right from left. When you first try it, you might fail to see the playful spirit of Twister in the pose. You may find yourself gripping at your wrists and ankles or unnecessarily clenching muscles as you attempt to balance on one foot. To find ease and a feeling of freedom in the pose, it might help to think about the myths behind Garudasana’s name. Garuda, though often translated as “eagle,” is actually a mythical bird in the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. As the vehicle of the god Vishnu, Garuda is said to be the king of birds. It stretches and broadens the area between the shoulder blades, releasing upper-back tension and opening the back of the heart. It also stretches your shoulders, ankles, hips, and wrists. And it broadens the sacrum, an area where many people typically hold a lot of tension, and softens the groins, which allows a free flow of energy in the lower body.
5. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)
Bridge pose lengthens the front body as well as the back body, creating space between your vertebrae and relieving pressure on the disks. For people who are concerned about thyroid function the bend in the neck and holding of the pose for lengths of time stimulates sluggish thyroids. Your thyroid is responsible for fueling your calorie-burning fire. In addition, bridge pose supplies the neck with an awesome stretch. It also holds you (especially if you use blocks for support) in a gentle backbend.
*Bonus: Handstand
Handstands are considered elevations in the yoga system because the head is lower than the heart in the final pose. Handstand, or Adho Mukha Vrkasana, helps to stimulate the entire endocrine system, according to Pam Werner of Sun and Moon Yoga Studio in Fairfax, Virginia. Once the body is turned upside down with the feet at the top and head closest to the ground, blood is moved to the head. This stimulates the pituitary gland in the head, which helps the set point for a healthy weight. The inversion brings blood to the thyroid glands to help regulate the production of T3 and T4, which also affects metabolism. Handstand brings blood to the adrenal glands to help reduce production of cortisol, the “stress hormone” that is released when we are on a deadline or moving through heavy traffic. Unchecked, some people experience adrenal exhaustion if they are not able to quiet this normal response to stressful situations.
As always, only do what you are able and if you are feeling any pain, back off. Be aware of what your body is capable of and when. Indulge with no regrets and enjoy every second of the rest of this year. Stay tuned for My Favorite Top 5 Yoga Postures That Help with Digestion! Right in time for the holidays.
Happy Holidays!
*Namaste grub grub*
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