Ways to relax when you feel stressed and instantly feel happier — Healthy living guide

Sakshi Mishra
5 min readJun 2, 2021

It’s tough; it’s definitely tough to smile through a heavy heart. Sometimes when you try, you eventually burst into tears. The spiking cases of anxiety, and depression, and the casualties due to this large-scale disaster shows it’s not something you can get over so easily, you need time, people to cheer you up, efforts and determination.

Depression is like sitting in a room full of people with a blank stare and not a single thought in your head but hearing everything going on around you and being too exhausted to respond to any of it or you are climbing the staircase with no end or hating your skin for no reason. Anxiety feels like a heavy object is on your chest while your mind revolves through days and days of events in 10 seconds then around again, you’re too agitated to try to make sense when you don’t cry at hard times or persistent feel emptiness.

It’s horrible. Isn’t it? Well yes! It’s just that we don’t understand the intensity until we feel it on our own.

Moreover, I love the fact that the world has become more aware of mental health over the last few years after being neglected for a long. That we can find out if the COVID-19 anxiety is getting to us and we try to figure out ways to calm ourselves.

If each of us starts sharing our experiences, tips, and tricks, it may support someone who is still not able to find a way out of this never-ending circle of depression.

Me, Myself and I 🙋

The time I started calling my friends, spending time with family rather than watching multiple Netflix series one after one, and started practicing yoga. I felt like happily breathing after a long gap. My mind felt refreshed and my body experienced a divine kind of energy. So here is my toolkit for the lockdown anxiety-

1. Limit your news/media exposure — Stay updated but avoid negative pieces of information.

2. Plan activities with your family — Cook, Play, Paint, Plant.

3. Stay connected — With your loved ones.

4. Relax and Meditate- If you try just one 30 minutes session I can promise you that you’ll notice a difference for sure.

The Benefits of yoga👍

1. It’s a great way to strengthen your body and core.

2. It’s an excellent stress reliever.

3. It can be done anywhere.

4. It’s a good way to learn how to connect with actual you.

5. Yoga practices are fun and none competitive.

6. Best of all it can be fine anywhere at any time.

Ways to relax when you feel stressed and instantly feel happier — Healthy living guide

I thought of compiling some easy yet effective poses for my lovely readers. Instead of detailing the points, process, and benefits, I have attached a picture of each pose to give you a glimpse of the correct pose 👇

1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

2. Sitting Mountain pose (Parvatasana)

2. Sitting Mountain pose (Parvatasana)

3. Legs- Up- the- Wall- Pose (Viparita Karani)

Legs- Up- the- Wall- Pose (Viparita Karani)

4. Knee to Nose Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Knee to Nose Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

5. Standing Backbend Hands-On Wall Pose (Anuvittasana Hands-on Wall)

Standing Backbend Hands-On Wall Pose (Anuvittasana Hands-on Wall)

6. Sideways Bending Pose (Konasana)

Sideways Bending Pose (Konasana)

7. Pigeon Pose (Kapotasana)

Pigeon Pose (Kapotasana)

8. Warrior Pose 1 (Virbhadrasana 1)

Warrior Pose 1 (Virbhadrasana 1)

9. Warrior Pose 2 (Virbhadrasana 2)

Warrior Pose 2(Virbhadrasana 2)

10. Warrior Pose 3 (Virabhadrasana 3)

Warrior Pose 3 (Virabhadrasana 3)

11. Reverse Warrior Pose 3 (Viparita Virabhadrasana)

Reverse Warrior Pose 3 (Viparita Virabhadrasana)

12. Cat pose (Chakravakasana)

Cat pose (Chakravakasana)

13. Wide-legged-forward-fold-to-tripod-headstand (Prasarita-Padottanasana-to-Sirsasana-ii)

Wide-legged-forward-fold-to-tripod-headstand (Prasarita-Padottanasana-to-Sirsasana-ii)

14. Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana)

Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana)

15. Bridge pose (Setu Bandha SarvangaSana)

Bridge pose (Setu Bandha SarvangaSana)

16. Camel Pose (Ustrasana)

Camel Pose (Ustrasana)

17. Plank Pose (Phalakasana)

Plank Pose (Phalakasana)

18. Corpse Pose (Savasana)

Corpse Pose (Savasana)

19. Wide-leg Standing Forward Fold (Prasarita Padottanasana)

Wide-leg Standing Forward Fold (Prasarita Padottanasana)

20. Child’s Pose (Balasana)

Child’s Pose (Balasana)

21. Cobra pose (Bhujangasana)

Cobra pose (Bhujangasana)

22. Downward Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Downward Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

23. Bow Pose ( Dhanurasana)

Bow Pose ( Dhanurasana)

24. Half- Moon Pose (Ardha chandrasana)

Half- Moon Pose (Ardha chandrasana)

25. Staff Pose (Dandasana)

Staff Pose (Dandasana)

26. Chair Pose (Utkatasana)

Chair Pose (Utkatasana)

27. Seated Spinal Twist Pose (Matsyendrasana)

Seated Spinal Twist Pose (Matsyendrasana)

28. Seated Lotus Pose (Padmasana)

Seated Lotus Pose (Padmasana)

I am sure you will feel better after practicing these simple poses. They stretch, lengthen, and balance the muscle and give a sense of relief to all those anxieties by quieting the mind and concentrating on your breathing.

In case you try them, you can leave a note in the comment section. Every time I see such responses, it’s like getting a little gift. I love hearing from you, having bits of advice, and opinions. Thank you for stopping by🙏

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