How Yoga Can Help You Unwind

Take a walk down the street. Chances are the amount of people you see with their heads bent over their smartphones is high. This is the digital age we live and participate in daily.

From our professional jobs to our free time, a large majority of our day is spent looking at a bright screen, whether that be their smartphone or a laptop for work purposes. This type of constant interaction with our technological devices can overstimulate our minds and thought processes. Not only that, but it can stress us out and make us feel drained. After a day of working on a laptop, replying to emails and texts, and staring mostly at a brightly lit screen, a space to relax, unwind, and unplug is greatly appreciated.

So how can we live and participate in this digital environment, while also making time and space to unplug and regain a sense of self?

Through the practice of yoga.

The Benefits Of Yoga

The list of ways that regular yoga practices benefit you is long and expansive. From the physical stretch and exercise to the meditative aspect of the yoga practice, involving yourself in a yoga class will always positively impact you. These are a few ways in which you will feel the effects of yoga:

• Stress relief
• Increased energy
• A sense of calm and peacefulness
• A clear mind

The list can and does go on. While yoga is done with your body, its effects on your brain functions and clarity of mind are invaluable. And after spending a long day hunched over a computer, a yoga class can come as a relief. You’ll be in a quiet room with classmates, you won’t be reaching for your phone, and you’ll be given the time and space necessary to decompress and clear your mind.

Here are some yoga poses that you can try, in and out of yoga classes, to combat stress and unwind from a long day:

Standing Forward Bend

This pose is simple, yet very effective. Simply stand with your feet slightly apart and your toes pointing forward. Stretch your arms and spine up, the hinge at the hips and bend forward to touch your hands on the ground.

This pose will increase your upper body circulation, allowing you to breath and calm your mind and body.

Child’s Pose

Included in almost any yoga class, the child’s pose position works to stretch out the spine and release tension in your upper body. Simply begin on all fours and lean your hips back. Your arms will extend in front of you and your forehead will rest on the mat.

Happy Baby

This yoga position is not only fun, but it is a great stress reliever. Laying on your back, fold your knees into your belly. Grab the bottom of both feet with your hands and open your knees. To get a good stretch through your legs, push gently through your feet. This pose opens up the hips, which is where a lot of stress is felt. Not only that, but it opens up your back and spine. You’ll be feeling the stress melt away.

Corpse Pose

After a long, stressful day of work or running errands, laying in the Corpse Pose with bring immediate relaxation. You can probably guess it from its name, but to get the most of this stress, you’re going to lay on your back, allowing your feet and ankles to open and relax. This is a full body pose that will calm and clear your mind.

Seated Full Body Twist

If you carry stress in your back, this yoga pose will bring some relief. Sit on your yoga mat with your legs extended in front of you. Bend one of your legs so the knees is raised while the foot remains on the mat. With the opposite arm, grab the raised knee and twist your spine to the side, looking over your shoulder. You may feel little pops in your spine as your lightly twist. This stretches out your back, which is where a lot of stress can accumulate throughout a busy day.

Yoga Pod is a community-oriented yoga studio. With a location in Fort Collins, we are dedicated to providing yoga classes for everyone of all experience levels. We understand the overstimulation from technology and the stress that comes with an average workday. When you participate in a yoga class and practice certain poses, you’ll feel your mind clear and the stress melt away.

If you are interested in trying out a class at our studio, you can find our schedule on our site, as well as descriptions of the classes that we offer. Looking for ways to be even more connected? Try out Yoga Pod today — you get 30 days of yoga for just $30. Learn more about our yoga memberships, classes, and our community today.