With the exam season and deadline weeks approaching, finding ways to feel less stressed is of high importance.
Sometimes, dedicating a long amount of time out of your day to achieve this can sometimes have the opposite effect.
Here are some quick and easy yoga poses and stretches that you can do in the comfort of your own home, and during your work breaks, to destress yourself and your body.
Basic Spine Flex
This enhances a sense of calm as you lengthen your back and sit cross-legged on the floor. With this pose, you can heavily focus on your breathing. With each breath, try to elongate your spine as much as possible.
Try to keep the shoulders as relaxed as possible. As you sit and focus on your breathing, your stress levels will start to go down dramatically.
Cat Pose
The cat pose is one of my favourites as you can feel the stress leave your body as you start to bend and then arch your back.
All you need to do is go on to all-fours, start to arch your back as much as possible, and then push your stomach towards the floor.
This helps to release any pent-up energy and can significantly calm your breathing.
Cobra Stretch
The cobra stretch opens up your chest and heart areas. It also helps release the tension in your back and increases your flexibility.
Start by lying flat on the floor and then place your hands just in front of your shoulders. Slowly start to press down on the floor and push your body up until your arms are straight.
This exercise helps you to connect to yourself again and feel more balanced in a time of turmoil.
Legs Up Wall Pose
This is where you put your legs flat up against a wall as you lie your back on the floor. You feel the blood rushing down from your legs, which is said to help improve your circulation massively.
This is extremely good if you have been standing up, or have been on your feet all day, as it helps you to relax and also assist those who are struggling to sleep.
