Stress has become an inevitable part of our daily lives. While people might not understand its consequences entirely, chronic stress affects your overall health and well-being severely. When you're stressed, your body releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which triggers the "fight or flight" response in the body. This eventually increases your heart rate, blood pressure and energy levels, which can benefit you in the short-run. However, in the long-term, it can lead to physical and emotional problems such as headaches, sleep issues, digestive problems, mood swings and poor immune system. Therefore, it is important that you keep a check on your stress levels.
One of the ways to manage your stress is performing some form of physical activity. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, the body's "feel-good" hormones. This hormone helps to improve your mood and keep your worries at bay. It also lowers cortisol levels and blood pressure, which eventually improves your sleep and has a positive impact on your overall health. Yoga is one such form of exercise that can help reduce stress and also, improve your physical health.
Yoga combines asanas, meditation and pranayamas, which helps improve your mental as well as physical health. There are different asanas that can help reduce stress and improve your concentration.
Yoga Asanas That Can Help Reduce Stress And Improve Concentration
Garudasana
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Garudasana (Eagle Pose)
This asanas requires the individual to twist their arms and legs, which helps stretch and strengthen the muscles. It also needs your focus and physical coordination. While performing this asana, you have to work to maintain balance, which helps you stay in the present moment, thereby reducing stress and improving concentration. Garudasana boosts brain stimulation, improves memory and relieves mental tension, all of which benefits overall mental health.
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Balasana (Child's Pose)
This asana calms the nervous system, which helps in deep relaxation. Balasana can be beneficial for reducing anxiety, mental exhaustion and emotional stress. The forward bend and slow breathing helps to calm the mind and foster emotional balance, thereby keeping stress at bay and restoring focus and concentration.
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Padmasana (Lotus Pose)
This is an asana that is usually performed during meditation. It is known to calm the mind and help you achieve a deep state of relaxation. This enables you to focus on your thoughts and improve concentration. Padmasana also helps improve breathing patterns, which allows more oxygen to reach the brain, further reducing anxiety and mental stress.
Uttanasana
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Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)
This asana requires you to bend forward at the hips, keeping your spine relaxed and allowing your head to hang freely. This helps soothe the nervous system, relieve tension in the neck, shoulders, and back, which improves blood flow to the brain. The increased oxygenation helps reduce stress levels and increase concentration.
Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose)
This asana helps stabilise the body and encourages stillness. Sitting in Vajrasana with a straight spine and practicing deep breathing can help calm the mind, improve mental clarity and concentration. This pose also helps to relax the body and mind. Vajrasana is beneficial for both emotional and cognitive stability, making it good for relieving stress.
Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)
This asana is a backbend where you lie on your stomach and lift your legs and chest by grabbing the ankles, forming a bow shape. Dhanurasana helps open up the chest, stimulate the nervous system and increase circulation, especially to the brain. The backbend has the ability to relieve stress and reduce tension.
Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)
This asana requires you to sit with your legs extended forward and reach for your toes, folding over your legs. It helps to stretch the entire spine and hamstrings and it helps soothe the nervous system and reduces mental agitation. When you perform this asana, it improves emotional well-being and reduces anxiety, which benefits memory and attention.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
