Strike A Yoga Pose To Strike Down Stress

When hyperventilating sometimes seems the only option to stress, Petri Brill has a healthier suggestion: yoga.

“Yoga is not just a practice of poses, but of your breath work,” says Ms. Brill, a Dallas certified yoga instructor. “The practice of slow, controlled, rhythmic breathing helps bring down blood pressure, rest the heart, clear the mind, energize the body and relax the muscles.

Combine this with some relaxing yoga poses, and peace and serenity are just around the corner.

Here are five poses: Do one or two or all five poses for a deep inhale and exhale of a minute or two. Or longer.

1) Bridge Pose. This is designed to calm the brain, rejuvenate tired legs and relieve spinal tension.

To do it: Lie on your back with your feet hip-width and flat on the ground. Press down with your feet; lift your glutes, hips, pelvis and back off the ground. Keeping your arms flat, with your shoulders on the floor, lock your fingers under your glutes. Inhale and exhale.

2) Standing Forward Bend. This stretches tight hamstrings and relieves tension in the hips and lower back.

To do it: Stand straight, feet hip-distance apart. Exhale and bend, bringing the crown of your head toward the ground. You’re far enough when your hamstrings are stretched, but not tight. Put your right hand on your left elbow; release and switch.

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