6 De-Stressing Yoga Poses to Help You Calm Down
I have a stress problem. Actually, everyone I know has a stress problem—but my problem in particular is that living and working in New York City makes me feel like I'm constantly operating at anywhere from "somewhat stressed" to "overwhelmingly, unmanageably stressed" on any given day. My stress level starts rising during my morning commute (because something always goes wrong), and just consistently climbs throughout the day as various tasks at work and in my personal life—like the totally low-stress job of planning my wedding—pile up.
Long story short, I live and work in a stressful city, and I have a lot going on in my life—so if I'm not packing up and moving and eloping, I'm not going to get rid of my stressors. (And I’m sure there’d be different ones to contend with on the other side.) Which means I have to learn how to manage them. I’m assuming many other people are in the same boat.
I find exercise in general to be really stress-relieving—particularly boxing or running, two activities that let me clear my head and refocus my thoughts and just take some time for me, mentally and physically. But when it comes to the most convenient de-stressing exercise, yoga is a clear winner. You don't have to use any special gear, or go anywhere. Plus, yoga’s focus on breath and mind work can help calm racing thoughts.
"Yoga can be an excellent tool for self-regulation," Amy Apgar, yoga instructor at Y7 Studio in New York City, tells SELF. When we're stressed, our sympathetic nervous system (the famed "flight or fight" response) kicks into high gear. A stressful trigger prompts our bodies to release stress hormones, causing a cascade of physiological changes like elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, and increased blood pressure—all of which are meant to get us amped up and ready to face that stressor. This is also what makes us feel really on-edge and high-strung. Studies have shown that yoga can be useful for managing stress.
Apgar suggests doing yoga regularly as a "preventive" practice. "Even [just honing your] ability to maintain slow, mindful breaths is a great tool for dealing with stress as it arises," she adds. Apgar recommends doing any of the yoga moves she demos below as often as you need to—whether that’s daily to help manage stress, or after you're feeling particularly frazzled to help you calm down.