Some Yoga Poses For Anxiety

Some specific yoga asanas are helpful in managing anxiety. Yoga asanas need to be practiced by those who are prone or known to having anxieties, as yoga is capable of helping in management of anxiety after a little practice.

Single Leg Raise

This is one of the best yoga poses for anxiety. Lie down straight on your back. Raise the right leg up straight and as far as possible while inhaling. Lower it back to original position exhaling. Then repeat the same with left leg. In the next cycle hold your feet with opposite hand while in the raised position. Hold it there for a while till you took a few breaths.

Double Leg Raise Yoga Pose

Similar to single leg raise but instead of raising one leg at a time, you raise both the legs together with knees being straight and buttocks on the floor. Repeat ten times. Breathing sequence is inhaling while raising and exhaling while lowering legs.

Cobra Pose

This is simply the easiest of the yoga poses for anxiety. Lying flat on stomach rest your palms besides your shoulders. Holding the feet together and toes pointing away, push-up your head and chest gently off the ground with head lifted up fully. Breathing sequence is inhaling while pushing up and exhaling on the way back.

Child Pose

This is one of the effective yoga posture to reduce stress and anxiety. Proceed from shvana asana. With knees spread fully on the floor bend forward so much as to touch your belly to thighs and forehead to ground. Keep the hands fully stretched in front of you.

Sage Twist

This is also known as ardha matsyendrasana. Start like paschimothanasana. Rest right foot on left knee clamping it there, lock it by your left armpit and support yourself by resting right palm on the floor on the right side. Bend the left knee so much as to touch your hips by left heel. Twist torso as much as is possible to right and breathe 4-5 times. Go back to original position and do it for the next leg.

Some Pranayamas for Anxiety

Yoga is incomplete without using breathing techniques. Pranayamas are independent breathing techniques that can be performed independent of yoga asanas. Here are some pranayamas tp help reduce anxiety.

Ujjayi (Victorious Breath)

Sitting in padmasana, inhale till lungs are full. Hold breath as long as possible. Exhale from left nostril by closing the right one with right thumb. In the next cycle, exhale from the right nostril, closing the left nostril this time with right index finger.

Alternate-Nostril Breathing

In this differed breathing technique, you will start from sitting in sukhasana (some exponents prefer padmasana). Inhale through one nostril and exhale through the other alternatively, using the right thumb and index finger to close the alternate nostrils. Hold breath in between inhaling and exhaling as long as comfortable.

Yoga has become the preferred and prescribed method to combat anxiety. Yoga for anxiety as a proven technique is catching up fast. Before getting started with yoga poses for anxiety it is advisable that you consulted your doctor.