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Yoga Asanas for Chronic Illness & Stress
- chareneehamilton
- Jan 28, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 31, 2024
Char's top 5 list of gentle yoga poses (asanas) for chronic illness and stress.
Grab your mat and stretch into these muscle-relaxing poses!
1. Reverse Pigeon Pose
The reverse pigeon pose and all its variations open up the hip flexors and get a deep stretch - which is why this is #1 on the list! This restorative asana reduces any stiffness in the hips and prepares the body for seated poses.
2. Puppy Dog Pose
Benefits of this pose include opening the lower back and stretching vertebrae, Puppy Dog Pose helps pressure points in the body shift. You should feel the stretch from your arms that go all the way to the end of your spine. You can keep your chin or your forehead on the mat in this pose
3. Winged Dragon Pose
Ayurveda states that opening up the hips is what releases trapped tension and emotions, which could be a reason why poses like this one feel so good. Extending your foot onto the side in this asana adds more of a challenge and greater stretch in the hips. Lean into this challenge each time you stretch.
Notice the growth between the beginning and consistency.
Reminder: Breathwork is incredibly important for your body to fully come into each asana. Your stomach should be filling with air on the inhale, and pushing all of the way out on the exhale.
4. Cat Pose
Cat pose is a gentle stretch that reminds us of a black Halloween cat in the moonlight, and that's how to best describe it. Go deep into this asana by keeping your arms and thighs in place.
5. Cow Pose
Following the Cat pose is the Cow pose, an asana that is equally gentle and has a nice backend to wake up the vertebrae. Alternating between Cat & Cow pose, breathe in deeply and gently guide your body between breaths. Notice which asana feels more of a challenge.
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