“You cannot always control what goes on the outside. But you can always control what goes inside.” -Wayne Dyer (Via happier)
This year has not been good to us with so many drastic changes in our personal and professional life. By being stuck in our houses for almost three months or more, some of us might have experienced some anxiety or distress, which would be anything but fun. Kudos to you if you didn’t deal with any anxiety, but for me, someone with mild anxiety, I was highly distressed and worried about the situation from March till mid-April. However, in April I started my journey in the amazing art of yoga.
I used to think that Yoga was something the elderly do. I never understood the hype about it. My first actual Yoga workout was back in January, where I came to know that Yoga is unlike any workout I have ever done before and more difficult as well (and I have done quite a few). And, I also learned that I am as flexible as a tree trunk. And that I want to do yoga more often. But even then, I didn’t know the wonders Yoga can do. Then came Corona throwing me off my rhythm.
Now, I want to share what I did to overcome my anxiety. I highly recommend doing these exercises regularly, even if you don’t have any stress/anxiety.
Sun Salutation A and B (Surya Namaskar A and B) -
This stretches out all the muscles, and helps extend your range. It is really good for your lungs, digestive system, blood circulation, weight loss, etc. However, sun salutation B is a bit more strength-based, unlike the stretching-focused sun salutation A. They are both very good to do in the morning with fresh air. There is another sun salutation C, which I haven’t done yet but you can also check it out! (Check out how to do sun salutation A, B and C).
Child’s Pose (Balasana) -
This is a very basic pose in which you are on your knees and extend your arms outwards. As you do that, you lower your upper body and gently touch your head to the ground/mat. This is an amazing stretching workout and can be done even after extreme gym workouts. I loved this because it feels so good in your lower back (yes, I have lower back pain even though I am young, do not call me out). There are a bunch of variations to child’s pose like Thread Needle (Parsva Balasana), Side Child’s Pose, etc. These asanas stretch your lower back, obliques, arms, etc. I highly recommend doing this pose before and after your yoga workout, which will leave you feeling awesome! (To know more about variations and how to do it click here).
Half Pigeon Pose (Ardha Kapotasana) -
My third favourite asana is the half pigeon pose. It took me a couple of tries to do it correctly, but once I got the hang of it, it was the best thing that came out of Yoga for me. This pose stretches your abs, legs, and glutes at the same time and challenges your stability in the down dog! It is a perfect restorative yoga workout pose! (Check out how to do it here). Just like in the child’s pose, the half pigeon pose also has a lot of variations and an advanced version called Full Pigeon (Raja Kapotasana).
There you are! Now you know some of the most basic and a few advanced poses of yoga which you can do at home. These exercises will help you keep negative thoughts at bay, sleep more peacefully, and lose weight! Control your inner body and keep your soul and mind at peace at all times.
Fun Fact: Research has shown that practicing yoga can delay aging! (To know more fun facts about yoga, click here).
However, keep in mind that your breathing is one of the most highly important aspects of yoga and its success. Breathing, if not done correctly, can result in chest pain. Some of you might have injuries in your back, neck, etc and you might have to modify some of these poses to easier variations (or advanced ones) in order to not cause any pain or further injury. Keep in mind, injury can be avoided if yoga is done properly! (Click here to know more).
Let’s make a deal - try including yoga in your everyday life! Make this a habit and you will see the changes for yourself.
Tell me about your yoga experience below! Namaste.
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