As college students we deal with stress on a regular basis. We all have our different techniques on how to manage our stress but one way that has proven to be helpful is by practicing yoga. Yoga helps connect you not only with your psychical health but also your mental health. Its goal is to help you achieve a peaceful mind and body while relieving you of any stress or anxiety you might have. The legacy rehab have adopt the methods of yoga and other exercises to help people get back on track with life.

Yoga is all about poses, breathing, and meditation. It challenges you to let go of everything going on in your mind and focus on one specific thing. Even if you are just a beginner to yoga, learning a few simple poses can help you start your journey.

Here are 5 beginning poses:

1. Childs Pose (Balasana) – Child’s pose is a resting posture that helps quiet the mind, ease stress, and anxiety while gently stretching the back. You begin by exhaling and laying your torso down between your thighs. You then have your arms extended out in front of you to help stretch your back. Stay in the pose for 1 to 2 minutes.
2. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) – Bridge pose helps build your core and lower body while lengthening your spine. While lying on your back, bend both knees and place the feet flat on the floor, hip width apart. Slide your arms alongside your body with the palms facing down. Press the feet into the floor, inhale and lift the hips up, rolling the spine off the floor. Press down into the arms and shoulders to lift the chest up. Breathe and hold for 4-8 breaths.
3. Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) – The Downward Dog strengthens your arms, shoulders, and back while stretching your whole body. Start on all fours with hands directly under shoulders, knees under hips. Walk hands a few inches forward and spread fingers wide, pressing palms into mat. Curl toes under and slowly press hips toward the ceiling, bringing your body into an inverted V, pressing shoulders away from ears. Feet should be hip-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Hold pose for 3 full breaths.
4. Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana) – The Warrior pose helps improve your balance and increases stamina. Stand with legs 3 to 4 feet apart, turning your right foot out 90 degrees and left foot in slightly. Bring your hands to your hips and relax your shoulders, then extend arms out to the sides, palms down. Bend right knee 90 degrees, keeping knee over ankle; gaze out over right hand. Stay in the pose for 1 minute then switch sides. 
5. Corpse Pose (Shavasana) – Most yoga practices end with corpse pose because it is the most calming pose. It’s designed to put your body into complete ease which allows you to fully relax and relieve your stress. Lay on your back and let your arms & feet fall out to the side. Close your eyes and turn the palms to face upwards. Relax your whole body including your face and start letting the body feel heavy. Let your breathe occur naturally as you relax into your mat. Stay in this pose for 5 minutes then begin to deepen your breath. You can then begin moving your fingers and toes to wake up your body. 

These are just a few of the fundamental poses of yoga that can help you relieve stress. I highly suggest checking out your local yoga studios for classes or even right here on campus where they offer Yoga 1 and Yoga 2 classes.