Beginner-friendly poses to destress and decompress.
One of the reasonsyoga is so valuable for stress reliefis that it incorporates dynamic, or moving, stretches.
Moving stretches activate your range of motion, circulating blood and oxygen and delivering nutrients to tissues.
Photo: Haley Cairo
This powerful combination is incredible for melting away muscle tension.
They’re low-impact and beginner-friendly, so you might work them easily into a daily fitness orstretching routine.
McDonald recommends holding each yoga pose for four to six deep breaths to soothe your muscle tension.
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How to do it:Start on your hands and knees.
Exhale, lift your head and flatten or slightly arch your back.
That’s one breath cycle-repeat four to six times.
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How to do it:Start on your hands and knees.
Gently sit back on your heels.
Walk your hands forward, lower your chest.
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Tuck your chin in and lower your head to the floor.
Breathe deeply for a few breaths.
How to do it:Start on your hands and knees.
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How to do it:Stand with your feet hip-width apart.
Inhale and raise both arms straight up overhead.
(you could also keep arms straight up while holding the slight backward bend.)
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How to do it:Start on your hands and knees.
Adjust to double-check both hips are facing forward and as flat to the floor as possible.
Release after several breath cycles and repeat with the left leg forward.
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2023;14(5):100767. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100767
