Relax this Friday with Yoga

September 7, 2012 by Taylor Studios in Other


No matter how much you love your job, care about your industry and value your co-workers—it is inevitable that there will be days you feel a little burned out mentally and/or physically. Meeting deadlines, corresponding with clients and sub-contractors, and developing new markets all while maintaining relationships, can leave us feeling totally engulfed in the s-word… so what can we do to keep the STRESS at bay?

First off, it is important to acknowledge stress so we can avoid letting it completely consume us. We need to take the moment to clear our heads, refresh our bodies and relax—we need some yoga! Now, don’t stop reading.

The benefits of yoga for the mind and body are innumerable (just Google it) but many of us are still apprehensive to begin our own practice. Ironically, the most common excuses for not trying yoga, (“I’m not flexible,” “I can’t relax,” “I wouldn’t be good at it”) reflect the major benefits that can be gained from a yoga practice!

So why not give it a try? Below is a series of poses that can help curb stress, relaxing and rejuvenating the body and mind.

First, physically remove yourself from stressors or distractions—step away from your desk, silence your phone—whatever you need to do to clear your environment. Begin by establishing your Mountain Pose, stand with your feet hip width apart and toes pointing forward. Let there be a slight bend in your knees (not locked) and tuck your tailbone under to lengthen your spine. Let your shoulders relax back and down with your arms hanging loosely at your sides, palms facing forward. Then let your face relax with your chin tilted slightly downward (lengthening your neck) and closing your eyes if you choose. Let the pose be active, but comfortable—take a few slow breaths, inhaling and exhaling through your nose to warm and purify the breath as it enters your body.

Then bring your hands to Heart Center in front of your chest, fingers extended, palms pressed together with thumbs resting against your breast bone, breathe here a few times. Then interlace your fingers to the webbing and as you exhale press your palms away from you extend your arms straight out. Feel your upper back open and your shoulder blades relaxing apart. With an inhale bring the arms overhead, still interlacing the fingers and take a big stretch and with your next exhale release your grip, reaching your arms out to the sides and letting them rest back at your sides.

Next, bring the hands to the low back and gently pressing the hips forward, let yourself extent backward in to a gentle Backbend. Keep your tailbone tucked under to protect the lower back and let the chest open towards the sky. Only take the bend as far as is comfortable.

Inhale back in to mountain pose and if it is comfortable let yourself relax into a Forward Fold releasing the chest towards the legs, letting a bend come in to the knees if the back and legs are tight. Let the body release forward, the arms hanging, maybe grabbing the opposite elbows. Relax here for a few breaths then gently roll the body up, letting the head and neck be last, bringing yourself back to standing Mountain Pose.

The series can be repeated or take a few final relaxing breathes in your mountain pose as you feel your stress melt away— or at least become more manageable!

Most importantly, remember that yoga is a practice; its ability to reduce stress will deepen the more frequently you do it. And even if you decide yoga isn’t your thing—­­hopefully you gave it a try and maybe even released a few stress-relieving endorphins laughing at yourself. In the end, what is most important is that you find a (healthy) way to deal with stress so you can embrace the things you enjoy about your job and love about your life!

If you haven’t tried yoga in the past, what do you typically try to do to relieve stress?