When we’re stressed out, our sympathetic nervous system responds as if we’re in danger — aka the fight-or-flight response. And while not all stress is bad, chronic stress can lead to a myriad of health issues such as:

  • reduced
    immunity
  • heart
    disease
  • anxiety
  • depression

To help combat stress, yoga can be a particularly effective tool. Thanks to its physical benefits like toned muscles and increased flexibility, it’s become incredibly popular. But it’s actually the internal effects that make it so powerful.

Studies have shown yoga to be linked to lowered cortisol levels (the stress hormone), increased resilience and pain tolerance, improved mood, and reduced anxiety. Certain yoga poses and longer hold times are even believed to activate the parasympathetic nervous system — our rest-and-digest response, which is the body’s antidote to fight-or-flight.

The best part of yoga is that you don’t need to spend a fortune on medications or invest in any fancy equipment to get healthy. All you need is your body and your breath.

Try this 5-pose sequence to reduce stress and help cultivate your inner calm:

This reclined resting pose will help you feel both supported and anchored. Having your feet on the floor encourages a settled feeling, while hugging your arms can be comforting.

Muscles lengthened: rhomboids, latissimus dorsi, quadriceps

Muscles strengthened: serratus anterior, pectoralis, hamstrings, internal hip rotators

  1. Lay on your back with your knees bent and feet
    and legs hip-width apart. Wiggle your feet a little wider and allow your inner
    knees to fall in toward each other.
  2. Inhale and spread your arms wide, out to the
    sides in a T-shape. On an exhale, hug your arms around your chest with the right
    arm on top. Remain in this position for 10 long breaths.
  3. To switch, inhale and spread your arms wide. Exhale
    and switch the cross, so the opposite arm is on top.

Poses that are close to the floor help with grounding, while the hand placements in this variation are designed to cultivate a sense of connection and peace.

Muscles lengthened: glute medius, glute minimus, glute maximus, hip adductors

Muscles strengthened: hip flexors, lower abdominals

  1. Begin by sitting in a cross-legged position on
    the floor (or on a folded blanket if your hip mobility is restricted), with your
    right shin in front of your left. Your shin bones should cross at the center, with
    your knees stacked directly above your ankles. Your feet should be actively
    flexed, which will help protect your knee joints.
  2. For the first variation, place your hands palms
    down, on your upper thigh bones. This is meant to cultivate a feeling of
    grounding. Allow your elbows to fall by your sides and the muscles of your neck
    release away from your ears.
  3. Keep the back of your neck long and the crown of
    your head reaching toward the ceiling. Gently close your eyes and remain here
    for 10 full breaths.
  4. For the second variation, switch the crossing of
    your legs, so that your left shin is in front of your right. Keep your legs
    active and heels flexed away from your body.
  5. Place one hand on your lower belly and the
    second hand on your heart. Take 10 full breaths and track your breathing as it
    moves within your abdomen.

Our body’s response to stress is the anticipation of movement — either fighting back or running away. Yet, in modern times, many of us get stressed but then remain sedentary. Moving during moments of stress can help blood circulation, increase oxygen throughout the body, and reduce cortisol levels at a faster rate.

Muscles lengthened: hamstrings, spinal extensors, erector spinae (when folded), pectoralis, biceps

Muscles strengthened: hip flexors, spinal extensors (when in extension), triceps

  1. Begin by standing at the top of the mat with
    your feet together or hip-width apart. Your arms should be by your sides and
    your breathing should be smooth.
  2. On an inhale, raise your arms up to the ceiling.
  3. Exhale and fold over your legs with your arms
    and hands placed on either side of your legs. Slightly bend your knees if you
    need to lengthen your back.
  4. Inhale and place your hands on the outside of each
    shin bone and lift your torso half way, extending your chest to the front of
    the space. Look forward.
  5. Exhale and fold over your legs once more. Again,
    slightly bend your knees if you need to lengthen your back.
  6. Inhale and rise to a standing position, with
    your arms raised above your head with a long spine.
  7. Exhale and lower your arms by your sides. Repeat
    1 or more rounds.

Standing postures strengthen our legs and our perseverance, while the outstretched arms (used in this variation) are what’s called a Power Pose — an expansive shape, which has been linked to reducing cortisol levels.

Muscles strengthened: front leg: external hip rotators, hamstrings; back leg: hip abductors, quadriceps

Muscles lengthened: front leg: adductors; back leg: hip flexors; chest: pectoralis

  1. Start by standing with your feet together, resting
    your arms by your sides. On an inhale, outstretch your arms into a T-shape
    position and step your feet out so that your ankles align beneath your wrists.
  2. From deep within the hip socket, turn your right
    leg outward (external rotation) and slightly turn your back hip and foot inward
    toward your front leg.
  3. On an exhale, bend your front knee until your
    knee tracks above your ankle. Remember to keep your back leg straight and
    strong.
  4. Your arms should continue to reach away from your
    body, while the muscles of your neck release away from your ears. Gaze at your
    front hand and take 10 long breaths.
  5. To come out, straighten the front leg and turn your
    feet parallel. Repeat on the left side.

Laying on your stomach can help you feel held and supported — not to mention it forces you to become more aware of your breathing. During significant stress, lying quietly without agenda initiates the relaxation response, a state where your blood pressure, heart rate, and hormonal levels all return to normal. During this time, your brain can shift toward what’s known as the alpha state or “wakeful relaxation.”

  1. Lie on your belly, with your arms by your sides.
    Let your legs fall open comfortably.
  2. You may turn your head and switch halfway
    through or bend your elbows and rest your palms atop one another for a
    “pillow.” You may also fold a towel under your head.
  3. Allow the front of your body to melt into the
    ground beneath you.
  4. Remain for 5 to 10 minutes. Note: The longer you hold this pose, the more you’ll benefit from
    it.
  5. To come out, gently move your hands and knees to
    create a table position. Sink your hips back toward your heels and enter into Child’s
    pose.

Not all stress is bad, especially if it mobilizes us to act and circumvent danger. But chronic stress combined with a sedentary lifestyle can wreak havoc on the body and mind.

Using yoga will both help to repair the negative effects of stress and help to prevent future stress, as practitioners learn to handle challenges more effectively.