I have found that some yoga poses for anxiety, or at least poses that help me feel less anxious, help stop the craziness every time this spiral happens. And they do it in a very short amount of time. Quickly dropping into my favourite shapes calms my mind and makes me feel less rushed, which is much more manageable.
The pose that helps me changes from day to day and from mood to mood. Some afternoons, I need to do more relaxing poses that help me get through the moment. Some people need a stronger posture, one that gets my blood pumping and takes my mind off the feeling that there aren’t enough hours in the day (which is also not true). Changes from day to day and mood to mood.
No matter what, I usually feel a lot better after taking a few deep breaths and am ready to move on to the next part of the day with a clearer head and calmer perspective.
7 Yoga Poses to Help You Relax in the Afternoon (or Whenever You Feel Like It)
These poses help me get out of my head and back into my body, from floor time to a reminder to look beyond what’s right in front of me and get out of my head and back into my body.
1. Savasana
A woman doing Savasana, one of our favourite yoga poses for anxiety
Andrew Clark took this picture.
Come on, a little time on the floor never hurt anyone. Actually, giving in to your stress and just wanting to lie down in a dark room is one of the best ways to get over it. Savasana is a kind of medicine. For one, five, or twenty minutes, take deep breaths here.
2. The Eagle Pose
A woman doing Eagle Pose (Photo: Andrew Clark)
Sometimes all you need to get through an afternoon slump is to change your focus. Eagle Pose, with its twisted limbs and balance on one leg, requires your full attention and steady breath. Some yogis hate Eagle, but I like the pretzel pose it feels like I’m giving myself a very complicated hug. Being comfortable in this position helps me bring in a more relaxed energy for the rest of my day.
3. The Locust Pose
A woman in Locust Pose (Photo by Andrew Clark)
Locust Pose tells you to get everything going and energised. The backbend is a quick way to fix all the hunching and slouching you do every day. It also works your core as you lift your heart and lift your heart with strength. When I’m having a really bad day, a dynamic version of Locust—one where I fly, slowly lower to the mat, and repeat—helps me get out of my funk.
4. Dog Facing Down
A woman doing Downward-Facing Dog
(Andrew Clark took this picture.)
It doesn’t have to be hard to find yoga poses that help with anxiety. Instead, going back to a shape you know well is very comforting. Downward-Facing Dog is like a home base for many yoga flows, and this pose helps me calm down when my mind is racing. If any part of my body is tight, Down Dog helps me let go of it and gives me a relaxing space to breathe without feeling like I’m doing nothing.
5. Legs Up the Wall
A woman doing Legs Up the Wall, one of our favourite yoga poses for anxiety
Andrew Clark took this picture.
Legs Up the Wall is a quick and surprisingly effective way to relax. Many people believe that this inversion can help with a lot of different problems, like anxiety, headaches, and even getting better sleep. You can also easily change it as needed by bending your legs, bringing the soles of your feet together, or adding props for support. The world usually seems like a better place once I come back down to earth.
6. Pose of the Boat
A woman doing the Boat Pose (Photo: Andrew Clark)
As mentioned, doing some core work can make you feel like you’re really there right away. Boat Pose stretches my tight hamstrings and quickly brings my core on board (my abs start to shake right away). It also helps me stop thinking about things and brings my attention back to the present with strong core engagement.
7. Extended Side Angle Pose
A woman doing Extended Side Angle Pose, one of our favourite yoga poses for anxiety
(Picture by Andrew Clark)
I like Extended Side Angle because it includes full-body extension, heart opening, and a chance to look up. The pose always makes me feel good and open, which makes it silly to complain about the time of day. I can take on the world now, even though the clock keeps ticking and the clock keeps ticking. All I need to do is take a few deep breaths on each side.
