This time of year many of us struggle with SAD (seasonal affective disorder). This can bring on feelings of depression, anxiety, insomnia to name a few. With darker and colder days it can be a really hard to find motivation to much of anything. These are a few restorative postures that bring benefits of relaxation into your life when you are feeling overwhelming, anxious or a little under the weather.
1. First pose is a supported child’s pose (Balasana). Here I am using a bolster but you can use pillows or rolled up blanket. Knees are wide, belly relaxed on to bolster, arms can be next to you or extended forward.
Benefits of this posture:
-Release the tension in the shoulders, and lower back.
-Hip opener
-Helps the digestive system
-Quiets the mind
-Calms the nervous system
Take this posture for as long as you’d like, making sure to switch your head from side to side half way through.
2. Second posture is a forward fold (Uttanasana). In this posture you have a deep bend in your knees, connecting the chest to thighs, allowing your head and shoulders to release, you can grab on to wrists or elbows, and sway from side to side releasing tension in your neck and shoulders or find stillness.
Benefits of this posture:
-Stretches the backs of the legs
-Lengthens the back side of the body
-Releases tension that we carry in shoulders and neck.
-Calms the nervous system
-Excellent to do when having moments of high anxiety
-Relieves stress
Remember to always roll up SLOWLY from a forward fold to avoid any dizziness.
3. Third pose is Legs up the wall (Viparita Karani). This pose is exactly how it sounds, legs up the wall. You can take variations by bringing your legs out to the side and make it wide-legged, or bring soles of feet together, making it baddha konasana against the wall.
Benefits of this posture:
-Helps with swollen legs
-Stretches the hamstrings
-Relieves tension in lower back
-Calms the nervous system
-Helps to relieve anxiety, stress and insomnia
Do this pose after a long stressful day, place a warm aromatherapy cloth on your eyes, play some relaxing music and allow yourself to let the stresses of the day melt away into your mat.
I hope these posture help you find comfort during these harder months and anytime you feel overwhelmed .
Take care of yourself, Your worth it.