Stress Relief for the Busiest Time of the Year

You do NOT have to be a yoga expert to benefit greatly from yoga. I have had friends post poses of them doing crazy awesome yoga positions. My friend, Sarah never ceases to amaze me with her strength and determination. She is one who I see posting amazing shots of all her yoga poses. THAT is NOT for me. Honestly, even if I was in great shape, I would have no desire for the poses some can do. I do think it is neat but just not for me. For me, yoga is completely different.

I spent over 80 days in the hospital in 2016. Most all of them were due to severe depression and anxiety. Not something I want to relive again, that’s for sure. During my longest stay, I spent thirty-something days straight in the Perinatal Unit at UNC. We had therapists in and out all through the day helping myself and the four other women who were also patients in the specialized unit.

Yoga was one of the routine therapy sessions. At first, I saw no point in it. Over time, it is one of the very few therapy sessions I can really even remember from my stay. Through yoga, I learned how to focus on my breathing and let everything else around me not even be a thought. When life seems to be bombarding you with non-stop negative strikes against you, being able to stop and focus solely on the in and out of your breathing was my only lifesaver at times. Anxiety would take hold and what I learned through our yoga classes would come to mind. I could use it as a coping mechanism to calm my racing heart and my toe tapping feet.

It was not all about the breathing but also the stretching. Anxiety and stress cause tight muscles, the tightened muscles then turn the anxiety and stress levels up a notch and the vicious cycle continued. Simple stretching while focusing on deep breathing can relax the overly tightened muscles.

Here are 11 different positions to decrease stress and anxiety:

Child’s Pose
Tree Pose
Warrior III
Head-to-Knee Forward Bend
Headstand
Seated Forward Bend
Salutation Seal
Cat Pose
Corpse Pose
Cow Pose
Extended Puppy Pose

There are times that I will become very stressed and do my “go-to pose”… child’s pose. To me, it is the most relaxing pose. SO, if you are dealing with depression or anxiety… find some simple yoga poses to add to your daily routine. To do that, you will just need a few minutes of time, and a few supplies.

Sling Yoga Bag

Aurorae has several bag selections to choose from. You can look at the different ones they have but I wanted to show you this particular one. It is the Sling Yoga Bag. This highly durable, heavy duty, Polyester backpack can be used for Yoga on the go. With two large individual compartments, a small front zipper pocket, built-in water bottle pocket, built-in cell phone pocket, and a yoga mat-locker system, you will be ready to hit the gym or hike to a quiet scenic destination.

The yoga mat-locker system can securely hold a yoga mat that is five pounds or lighter. Another great feature is the front flap pocket that can hold your sweaty clothing after a great workout. The adjustable shoulder strap is easy to adjust and fits very comfortably on your shoulder.

Aurorae Classic Thick Yoga Mat

Trying to do yoga on a hard surface is NOT comfortable. Let’s just say, you will not be able to de-stress without a good yoga mat. A nice yoga mat is the most important accessory you will need! The classic thick yoga mat by Aurorae is 1/4 inch thick. It is durable, and thick but still lightweight which makes it comfortable during stretching yet light enough to take on the go in your Aurorae Sling Yoga Bag. If you want to check out another neat yoga mat, click HERE!

Patented eco-friendly yoga mats are made from a new resin that does not emit chemicals or gases so your mat comes with no odors and does not release chemicals in the air around you.

Aurorae Unbleached Yoga Strap

Aurorae’s straps are ideal for yoga students of all levels as they help you get deeper in certain stretches or hold certain yoga poses for longer periods of time while maintaining proper alignment. The benefit of using a yoga strap can be the difference between practicing yoga safely or injuring yourself.

Made from 100% natural unbleached Cotton
Strong, user-friendly D-ring metal buckle to hold the strap securely in place during use
8 feet in length to provide excellent durability & comfort and 1.5 inches wide
environmentally friendly and made in the USA
biodegradable in nature
helps users deepen their stretches or hold challenging yoga poses for longer periods of time

The holidays can be some of the most stressful times, make sure you are taking all measures to keep stress and anxiety to a minimum. Aurorae Yoga has everything you need when it comes to yoga. Make sure you check out their site HERE!

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