Stress over the Holidays?
...just delete that word!
The holiday season is meant to be a joyous time but for many it can also be one of the most stressful times of the year. .
Between shopping for gifts, planning meals, traveling to see family, and heightened expectations of having the "perfect" holidays, stress levels tend to reach their peak. If you're feeling overwhelmed this year by everything you need to do and accomplish before the new year, try incorporating some restorative yoga into your routine.
4 Blissfully Calming Yoga Poses to Kick Holiday Stress to the Curb
These restorative yoga poses allow the body to fully relax and unwind.
Top right - Feel heavy in the legs after shopping, running around, or sitting? This supported "Legs-Up" pose has plenty of therapeutic benefits, from relieving stress to reducing headaches, and anxiety.
Top left - Halo pose in IPATH yoga, relieves pressure from the lower back, expands space in the heart center, and can lower blood pressure.
Bottom right - Grab a bolster or dense pillow, hip lines up with the bolster and torso turns to face over the bolster. Stay here with 12 gentle breaths, then slowly turn your head to the opposite side if accessible. This full spinal twist helps to release stress in the neck, shoulders, side and back body, as well as helping with digestion.
Bottom left - IPATH Halo in the Heart Opener with knee support is added to help release tension in the lower back, hips, and side body. Constructive rest for 15 minutes to reduce stress in the whole body, ease tension away from the shoulders and heart to bring a sense of peace.
Restorative yoga is a gentle, relaxing style of yoga that uses props like blocks, blankets and bolsters to fully support the body as it rests in comfortable poses. The goal is complete relaxation rather than strenuous exercise. Some key poses to try include legs up the wall, ( shown with a variation top right) supported fish pose, happy baby, and child's pose. Holding these poses for 5 minutes or more allows the body to deeply relax and release built up tension. Practicing restorative yoga even just once or twice a week can help lower symptoms of stress and anxiety. It's the perfect antidote to finding some calm amidst the chaos of the holidays. Give yourself the gift of relaxation this season through restorative yoga.
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