Holiday Stress Relief: 5 Yoga Poses for Finding Calm During the Festive Season

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and connection, but it can also bring its fair share of stress. Between gatherings, gift shopping, and all the extra activities on our plates, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Taking time to pause and ground yourself can make all the difference. Yoga offers simple, effective tools for finding calm amidst the holiday hustle, helping you center your mind, release tension, and stay present. Here are five yoga asanas (physical postures) to bring a bit of peace into your holiday routine.

1. Child’s Pose (Balasana)

Child’s Pose is a comforting and restful posture that allows you to reconnect with your breath and let go of any stress. This asana gently stretches the back, hips, and shoulders, offering a safe space to relax and reset.

• How to Do It: Begin on your hands and knees, bringing your big toes together and widening your knees apart. Sit your hips back toward your heels and extend your arms forward, resting your forehead on the mat. Take deep breaths, letting your body release any tension as you exhale.

• Benefits: Child’s Pose is excellent for calming the mind and relieving stress. It helps to stretch the lower back, hips, and thighs, which can become tight from holiday travel or standing for long periods.

• Try It During: Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed or need a quick mental break. Spending just a few minutes in Child’s Pose can help you reconnect with a sense of inner calm.

  
  
  
  Picture: @fitbymich_, on Scoria's Myco Forest All Natural & Non-Toxic Cork Yoga mat 
  

2. Standing Forward Fold (Uttanasana)

Standing Forward Fold is a gentle inversion that allows blood to flow to the brain, helping clear your mind and boost your mood. It also releases tension in the neck, shoulders, and spine, perfect for unwinding after a long day.

• How to Do It: Stand with your feet hip-width apart, bend your knees slightly, and fold forward from your hips. Let your head, neck, and arms hang freely toward the floor. Take a few deep breaths, feeling the gentle stretch along your hamstrings and back.

• Benefits: This pose improves circulation, calms the mind, and stretches the entire back of the body. It’s also a great way to decompress the spine and release tension.

• Try It During: Moments when you’re feeling frazzled or overstimulated. Forward folds can be very grounding, helping you feel rooted and relaxed.

3. Cat-Cow Stretch (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana)

The Cat-Cow stretch is a flowing movement that combines gentle backbends and forward folds. It’s a great way to release tension along the spine, warm up the body, and invite gentle motion, which can help alleviate stress and improve circulation.

• How to Do It: Begin on your hands and knees in a tabletop position. Inhale as you arch your back, lifting your chest and tailbone (Cow Pose). Exhale as you round your spine, bringing your chin to your chest and tucking your tailbone (Cat Pose). Flow between these two movements with your breath for about 10 rounds.

• Benefits:This movement helps to relieve back and neck tension, increase spinal flexibility, and deepen your breath, which can help soothe the nervous system.

• Try It During: Busy days when you need a quick movement break to loosen up and release tension. This gentle flow is perfect in the morning to start the day or in the evening to unwind.

For more comfort on your knees, you can use Scoria's All Natural Non-Toxic Knee Pads and cushioning squares.

4. Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani)

Legs Up the Wall is a relaxing, restorative pose that helps reduce anxiety, improve circulation, and relieve tired legs. It’s also incredibly calming for the mind, perfect for unwinding after a busy holiday event or gathering.

• How to Do It: Sit sideways next to a wall, then swing your legs up as you lower your back onto the mat. Rest your arms by your sides, palms facing up, and close your eyes. Take slow, deep breaths and stay in this pose for 5-10 minutes.

• Benefits: This pose is known to reduce stress and fatigue, ease swollen feet or legs, and relax the nervous system. The gentle inversion helps recirculate blood and creates a soothing effect on the body.

• Try It During: The evening before bed or after a long day on your feet. This pose invites complete relaxation and helps quiet the mind.

For more comfort and elevation, use Scoria's All Natural, Non-Toxic and Organic yoga bolster. Picture from: @Nourishwithfitgrl, featuring Scoria's bolster.

5. Reclining Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)

Reclining Bound Angle Pose is a deeply relaxing, restorative posture that opens up the hips and chest, making it easier to breathe deeply. This pose invites full relaxation, helping to calm the mind and center the body.

• How to Do It: Lie down on your back and bring the soles of your feet together, letting your knees fall out to the sides. You can place cushions or blocks under your knees for extra support if needed. Rest your hands on your belly or by your sides, and take slow, deep breaths.

• Benefits:This pose helps open up the hips and chest, improves circulation, and encourages deep breathing, which soothes the nervous system and helps ease stress.

• Try It During: Moments when you need to unwind fully. This pose is especially relaxing before bed, as it prepares your body and mind for restful sleep.

Finding Calm This Holiday Season

Taking a few moments each day to practice these simple yoga poses can make a world of difference during the holidays. Incorporating these poses into your daily routine can help you manage stress, improve mood, and keep your energy balanced, so you can enjoy the season with peace and presence.

Whether you’re new to yoga or have a regular practice, these poses provide a gentle way to reconnect with yourself amidst the holiday busyness. This season, remember to take a few deep breaths, find stillness on your mat, and embrace the calm within. By practicing mindfulness and self-care, you can create a more joyful, stress-free holiday season for yourself and those around you.