Mental Health Mondays: 5 Yoga Poses To Help Improve Mental Wellness
1. Tree Pose
Benefits: Tree pose is the perfect posture to practice balance and improve mental concentration.
INTO THE POSE:
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- Bring your feet/toes together
- Anchor your Left/Right foot into your mat
- Inhale your Right /Left foot to your inner calf, thigh, or ankle
- Inhale arms to heart centre or to the sky
OUT OF THE POSE:
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- Slowly bring your leg back to center
- Release your arms to heart centre, release your foot to the ground
- Repeat on the opposite side
2. Seated Forward Fold
Benefits: Forward folds are known to help calm your central nervous system.
INTO THE POSE:
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- Sitting on your mat with your legs in front
- Exhale as you bend your torso towards your knees (leading with your heart)
- Hands reach for the ankle or foot
OUT OF THE POSE:
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- Release your hands from the ankle or foot
- Lengthen your spine to an upright position
3.Legs up the Wall
Benefits: Legs up the wall pose is known to release stress/tension and create deep relaxation.
INTO THE POSE:
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- Bring the short end of your mat to touch the wall
- Sit with your Left or Right hip and shoulder touching the wall
- Lie down on your side and roll onto your back
- Bring your legs up the wall. Option to bring legs together or in a V-shape
OUT OF THE POSE:
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- Bend your knees and roll onto your side
- Lift yourself up to a seated position
4.Child’s Pose
Benefits: Child’s pose is a great posture to cool and calm down the mind/body.
INTO OF THE POSE:
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- Big toes to touch and knees hip-width apart
- Sit your hips to your heels
- Place the backs off your hands/arms alongside you
- Forehead on the mat
OUT OF THE POSE:
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- Palms into the mat
- Lift your forehead and torso
5. Shavasana
Benefits: Shavasana is known to help calm the mind, regulate the nervous system and reduce anxiety.
INTO THE POSE:
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- Extend your legs in front and arms alongside you to your final resting pose
- Allow yourself to release compassion to the universe
- And Breathe
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Citations:
Yoga Sequence: Yoga By B.Lynn ( https://www.instagram.com/yogabyblynn/)
Photographer: Patricia Sequeira Photography ( https://www.instagram.com/psphotography.ca/ )