Beat Stress With These Three Yoga Postures from Ananda

Concerned with rising health scares? Kirit Thacker, Head of Yoga at the award-winning Spa, Ananda, suggests three Yoga poses that can help you beat stress, boost health and lift your mood.

•    Shashankasana (hare pose):

Sit in Vajrasana. Inhaling, raise the arms above the head and exhale while bending the trunk forward from the hips, the arms and head held straight and in line with the trunk. At the end of the movement, the hands and forehead should rest on the floor in front of the knees. Bend the arms slightly so that they are fully relaxed and let the elbows rest on the floor. Breathing normally, remain in the final position for 3 minutes. Inhale and slowly raise the arms and trunk to vertical position. Breathe out while lowering the arms to the knees.

Benefits: Alleviates anxiety, regulates the functioning of the adrenal glands and tones the pelvic muscles and the sciatic nerves.

Remember: Must be avoided if you have high BP, slipped disc, or vertigo.

•    Sarvangasana (shoulder stand pose):

Lie on the back with your feet together, arms on your side with palms facing down. Now pressing the arms onto the floor lift your leg and spine up, raising the trunk to a vertical position. Support the back with your hands. Gently push the chest forward so that it presses firmly against the chin. In the final position, the trunk and legs are in one line and the body is supported by the shoulders, nape of the neck and back of the head. Beginners should hold the final position for a few seconds only, gradually increasing to an optimum of 3 minutes. To return to the starting position, bring the legs forward until the feet are above and behind the back of the head. Place the hands on the floor beside the body with the palms down. Gradually lower each vertebrae of the spine to the floor, followed by buttocks, so that the legs resume their initial vertical position. Lower the legs to the floor slowly.

Benefits: Relieves stress, fear and headaches, stimulates thyroid and thymus glands and alleviates asthma, diabetes, impotence and menopause.

Remember: Must be avoided if you suffer from enlarged thyroid, liver or spleen, high blood pressure or other heart ailments.

•    Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (alternate nostril breathing):

Sit keeping the spine and head straight. Hold the fingers of the right hand in front of the face. Rest the index and middle fingers on the eyebrow centre. The thumb is above the right nostril and the ring finger above the left. Close the right nostril with the thumb and breathe in through the left nostril. Close the left nostril with the ring finger, release the pressure of the thumb on the right nostril and breathe out, Next inhale through the right nostril. At the end of inhalation close the right nostril, open the left nostril and exhale through the left nostril. Practise 10 rounds.

It induces clarity of thought and concentration, increases vitality and lowers the levels of stress and anxiety. Cleanses and strengthens the lungs and the entire respiratory system.

About Ananda Spa:

Ananda Spa, the premium hospitality venture is a first of its kind in India. It is managed by the destination spa expert IHHR Hospitality. Ananda Spa has investment interests from Shanti Hospitality Group which is part of the parent holding company C&C Alpha Group Ltd of which Bhanu Chouhrie and Dhairya Choudhrie are Directors.

Source:  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/de-stress/EXCLUSIVE-Special-yoga-techniques-to-combat-stress/articleshow/47910607.cms