Yoga is an exceptional mind-body technique that helps you create a robust connection between your physical and mental aspects. It does this by reducing your stress hormone levels and increasing GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) endorphin levels (feel-good chemicals). When done correctly, these easy poses can improve your mood. Some of the top techniques that can improve your mental well-being include the following: 

Sukhasana 

Sukhasana is one of the classic techniques taught at the yoga teacher training San Francisco. It’s the most common position that you’ll ever see people doing in yoga classes. Basically, it includes you sitting with your spine straightened and legs crossed. 

Sukhasana can help you regain the confidence you’ll require to deal with chronic stress, depression, and anxiety. Unlike other techniques, Sukhasana’s posture leaves you centered while the spine’s base helps you feel grounded. These factors help people overcome anxiety since they feel that nothing can knock them off balance. For this pose, you should do the following:
 

• Sit on your yoga mat and cross your legs 

• Align your hips with your torso and leave your spine firm and straight 

• Lengthen the tailbone before moving your shoulders back and forth 

• Place your arms on your knees 

Once you are relaxed, you can take some deep breaths with your eyes closed while focusing on your heart. Hold the Sukhasana pose for several minutes and recite your mantra. 

Adho Mukha Svanasana 

Unlike Sukhasana, this technique can strengthen your entire body. With your head situated lower than the other parts of your body, blood flows freely into your brain, leaving you with the needed mental clarity. To perfect this technique, you should go down all four limbs with your back flat and then: 

• Push your toes onto the yoga mat/floor and lift your hip region. 

• Straighten your legs as you move your hip region to create an inverted V-shape. 

• You can bend your knees if your legs start to tighten. 

Try to hold this pose for a while and then breathe gently while returning to your original position. Repeat the above procedure before moving to your next routine. 

Salamba Sarvangasana 

Like Adho Mukha Svanasana, this pose can also improve mental clarity. Despite being effective, this technique can be dangerous to anyone with shoulder or neck problems. You should also avoid this technique when menstruating or if you have high blood pressure. When doing the Salamba Sarvangasana, you should do the following: 

• Lie on the floor or yoga mat and stretch your arms along your body. 

• Raise your legs towards the chest while keeping your knees bent. 

• Raise your legs over your head by simply pressing your arms against the floor. 

• Support your back with your hands and move the hips further while straightening your legs. 

• As your body straightens, you should continue pressing your palms on your back. 

Hold the position for as long as you can while breathing before lowering your body back to the floor. Repeat the above steps as many times as you can before switching to another technique. 

Endnote 

The whole idea behind yoga is to improve your mental clarity and help you conquer your anxieties and fears. Salamba Sarvangasana and Adho Mukha Svanasana are designed to increase blood flow to your brain while leaving you with the clarity needed to handle stressful situations. On the other hand, Sukhasana will help you regain your confidence. When done correctly, these techniques can improve the level of the feel-good chemicals in your body and leave you relaxed. 

Photo by Elina Fairytale: https://www.pexels.com/photo/meditating-with-candles-and-incense-3822621/