The 15 Best Yoga Poses For Long Study Sessions
Midterms and finals can be a very stressful time during the school year, but one thing that you can try while studying is yoga. Yoga is known to reduce stress and give your brain boosts of energy such as endorphins and adrenaline. With this combination of yoga poses, you will feel more relaxed, focused and ready to ace those exams!
1. Sukhasana or Easy Pose
This is the most recognized pose for yoga. This pose starts on a mat or the floor with the legs criss-crossed and wrists resting gently on the knees. This pose opens up the hips, gives your body and mind a state of serenity and eliminates anxiety.
2. Savasana Corpse Pose
I know how the name sounds but since this pose makes you feel so relaxed once you try it, you will understand why the pose is called “corpse Pose”. Lay down on your back on a bed, or mat, or on the floor and spread your legs and arms and fingers apart so nothing is touching. Once in your pose, close your eyes and pay attention to the silence, ignore and dismiss any obligations you need tending to and just relax.
3. Fan Pose
This pose has you seated in a chair so it makes a great balance between studying and relaxing at the same time. First you must be sitting, sit up straight and reach both arms behind, grab the top of your chair and lean forward.
4. Bitilasana or Cow Pose
This is a pose you can do on the floor either on a mat or on your bed. Lift your pelvis and chest upward leaving your stomach lower than the rest of your body. This pose will leave your spine stretched out and your neck released.
5. Marjaryasana Cat Pose
This pose allows for a boost of energy as it goes hand in and with the cow pose. This pose starts on the floor on all fours and as you inhale, bring your stomach in and make your back curve, similar to how a cat looks.
6. Urdhva Mukha Svanasana or Upward Facing Dog
For the upward dog, lay on the floor, then lift your upper body up with your arms as you lift your head at the same time.
7. Adho Mukha Savasana or Downward Facing Dog
This is the same concept as the upward facing dog, but the point of this pose is to stretch your leg muscles. So you start out with both feet on the mat making your body into a triangle as your hands meet your face.
8. Balasana or Child’s Pose
Much like the idea of a fetus in the womb, this pose is meant to give a sense of protection and stress free environment. First place your body over your knees and bend forward with your head between your arms.
9. Paschimottanasana seated forward bend
This looks easy but trust me if your body is sore or stiff this can be a hard one, but worth it. This pose starts out on the floor, both legs in front and feet flexed as you bend your upper body forward and reach for your toes. This pose allows your mind to relax and take a break from those distractions.
10. Janu Sirsasana or Head-to-Knee Forward Bend
This pose calms the brain by alleviating fatigue and headaches. Start the pose with both arms reaching over the extended foot and twisting or rotating your body sideways while extending your free arm over your body for a long deep stretch.
11. Standing forward bend or Uttanasana
Start standing. Exhale then bend forward reaching to the floor until the palms of your hands touch the ground next to your feet. Hold this position a little longer than the rest to ensure a good stretch in the legs, the spin and even the neck.
12. Legs-up-the-wall pose or Viparita Karani
Feeling the blood rush from your legs and lower body will feel amazing from sitting in lectures all day. Start with your butt and legs against the wall and hold for five minutes letting your arms rest at your sides. This helps renew blood and lymph drainage back into the heart area.
13. The Eagle Pose
For this pose you want to start standing with arms at sides, bend knees, balance on your right or left foot then cross the opposite leg over the other and try to balance on that same foot. This pose is about channeling your balance, and seeing how well you can do to stay within your equilibrium. This releases tension in your legs, back and shoulders.
14. Bridge Pose or the Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
Start on your back and leave your shoulders and neck on the ground while you lift your middle body off the ground. Make sure you try to grab your ankles for a good stretch.
15. Halasana or the Plow Pose
This is great for relaxing and giving your back a break. Start on your back and bring your legs over your head and make sure your neck and arms are stable on the ground. Hold this pose for a few minutes or a couple breaths and repeat.
Do you have any more good yoga poses for long study sessions? Let us know in the comments!
*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
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