We all experience stress in our daily lives. Each of us has a different reason for feeling stressed and a different way of dealing with it. While some of us prefer to work out in order to sweat it out, others may prefer a more relaxing approach to standing yoga poses. Yoga’s combination of breathwork, postures, and movement, which stimulates what is often referred to as the “mind-body connection,” is like taking a happy pill for your brain every time you do it. Yoga is an excellent practice for everyone because it provides numerous health benefits and has no negative side effects. If you are wondering how yoga poses can help you relax, look no further.
Key Standing Yoga Poses for Stress Relief
For those who prefer yoga to relieve stress and enjoy the other health benefits it has to offer, we recommend standing yoga poses to make your journey easier.
- Garudasana or Eagle Pose
Garudasana (Eagle Pose) necessitates concentration and is among the standing poses for stress relief. Bend your knees, cross your left thigh over your right, hook the top of your foot behind your right calf, spread the scapula and snug your right elbow into the crook of your left, touch your palms, lift your elbows, and stretch your fingers towards the ceiling.
While Garuda is commonly translated as “eagle,” it is a mythical bird known as the “king of the birds” in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Because it knows how to ride the wind, this magical being transports the god Vishnu through the sky without ever having to land. While performing such standing yoga poses, you might experience a tightening or constriction.
Eagle Pose improves balance and concentration, as well as postural and body awareness. This standing yoga strengthens your core, thighs, legs, and ankles while stretching your shoulders, upper back, and thighs.
- Prasarita Padottanasana or Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend Pose
For doing the standing yoga poses, create a solid foundation for Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend). Consider your feet to have four corners: the inner and outer heels, the big toe mounds, and the pinkie toe mounds. Lift your inner and outer arches while pressing into all four corners. This lift will move upward, firming your entire leg and grounding your feet into the earth. If your hamstrings or hips are tight, bend your knees slightly to ease the stretch, allowing you to keep your low back long and fold forward from your hip joints.
Wide-Legged Forward Bend standing poses, because your head is brought lower than your heart, can serve as a substitute for Sirsasana (Headstand) for those with neck issues. Prasarita Padottanasana pose beneficial for stretching your hamstrings, calves, and hips, strengthening your feet, ankles, and legs, and raising your awareness of the importance of protecting your lower back.
- Utthita Trikonasana or Extended Triangle Pose
When attempting the difficult Extended Triangle standing yoga, keep in mind that there is a reason for the pose’s name: Your body forms a variety of triangles in it, including the larger triangle formed by your front and back legs and the floor, as well as the smaller triangle formed by your arm, front leg or the mat, and side body. Utthita Trikonasana standing yoga poses promotes grounded stability as well as heart-opening chest expansion. It stretches and activates the abdominal muscles while stretching the hamstrings and back muscles. It is a pose that necessitates concentration, body awareness, balance, and a steady breath, which can help focus a wandering mind and bring you back to your mat.
Extended Triangle Pose helps with posture, balance, and body awareness. Such standing yoga poses for stress relief mitigates the negative effects of extended sitting.
- Utthita Parsvakonasana or Extended Side Angle Pose
Utthita Parsvakonasana emphasizes extension in your arms, legs, and stance. You will feel a stretch from the outer heel of your foot to your fingertips in this challenging and invigorating posture. While the rib cage opens, your oblique muscles are worked, encouraging you to breathe deeper. The Utthita Parsvakonasana Pose invites both presence and participation. Extended Side Angle Pose improves balance, increases energy, and combats fatigue; it may also aid in the development of confidence and empowerment. Such standing yoga poses improve posture and mitigate the effects of long periods of sitting and computer work.
- Ardha Pincha Mayurasana or Dolphin Pose
Dolphin standing yoga poses opens and strengthens the upper body, making it an excellent warm-up for inversions or a nice substitute posture when you are not quite ready to fly your legs above your head. Dolphin’s benefits are numerous, whether you practise it to get comfortable with the idea of turning upside down or as a prelude to Forearm Balance. With continued practise, you will gain a greater range of motion in your spine and shoulders, as well as strength in your arms and core, while becoming accustomed to bearing weight on your hands, arms, and upper body.
CONCLUSION
It’s time to try these standing yoga poses for stress relief. Please share with us which yoga pose you tried for yourself. Also, if you know someone who is dealing with daily stress, please share this article with them. When stress gets the best of you, try a great yoga pose.
Also Read: Yoga for beginners
