Mercury retrograde is not something to be feared — yet communication and tech disasters are highly likely during this period. Instead of flipping out, take a minute to catch your breath and you might find some amazing lessons among the chaos. If you’re feeling the weight of this month’s current Mercury retrograde period, don’t stress — in fact, you might need to actively de-stress. Australian yogi, Claire Grieve, created this supportive Mercury retrograde yoga flow for decompressing form a stressful or overly-emotional situation — fast…
The calming benefits of yoga are well-documented: Yoga can help ease stress and relieve anxiety. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows your heart rate, lowers blood pressure and increases blood flow to your digestive organs. Incredibly, even a brief practice can reduce the physiological symptoms of stress. I usually turn to restorative yoga for re-centering after a stressful or emotional day.
Mercury Retrograde Yoga:
5 Poses To Help You De-Stress
Try these relaxing restorative poses for just three to five minutes to restore a sense of rest and calm.
Seated Meditation | I begin almost all of my sessions with a seated meditation to help my clients release tension from the day.
How to: Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and take a few moments to check in and notice how you feel. Scan your body from head to toe. Notice areas you may be holding onto tension. Begin to notice and observe your breath. Focus your inhale on areas you feel you have built up tension from the day. On the exhale, imagine releasing everything built up in these areas.
Puppy Dog Pose | This is an intense yet relaxing stretch that can boost energy and calm the mind at the same time.
How to: Start on all fours. Place your forearms on the ground as if you are going to sit back into child’s pose, but leave your tush up in the air and deepen the stretch into your chest.
Pigeon Pose | Yogis say a lot of emotional tension is stored in the hips. Pigeon pose provides a deep stretch for this area and can be an effective release for pent up emotions.
How to: Starting in downward facing dog, bring your right knee forward and place it in line with your right hand. Your shin should be parallel with the front of your mat. Extend your left leg back and rest your knee and top of your foot on the ground. Square your hips and fold forward, resting your forehead on your hands. Hold for two to five minutes on each side. Breathe into the areas that feel tight, and each exhale will melt away tension.
Legs Up the Wall | This pose is my favorite pose for after a stressful or emotional situation. It can help calm the nervous system almost immediately.
How to: Lay down on the floor and shuffle your tush close to the wall. Lean back as you slide your legs up the wall. Rest your shoulders and head on the floor. Lay your arms comfortably by your side, palms face up. Close your eyes and breathe deeply here for three to five minutes.
Savasana | Savasana is the ultimate resting pose. Savasana will help you calm your body and mind. Practice this pose after the other above poses — it may be difficult to quiet your mind if you jump right in with this one.
How to: Lie on your back with your feet hip-width apart. Relax your arms by your sides with your palms facing up. Let your shoulders soften away from your ears. Breathe deeply and let your thoughts come and go without judgment.
These are some of my favorite restorative yoga poses, but you should play with it! An important component of any practice is maintaining enjoyment. Try each of these poses for three to five minutes, and after your practice consider which poses helped you relax and restore, then continue with what works for you.
