Finding ways to relax these days can be tough. But to truly quiet the mind, look no further than a gentle yoga routine: This type of practice can also help lower stress and blood pressure, release muscle tension, and loosen stiff joints.
“You need to release any tightness from the day to relax and unwind,” says Life span yoga coordinator and LifePower Master Yoga teacher and trainer Jan Johnson, who designed this routine. She recommends it as being an ideal preparation for bedtime.
These eight poses help release tension by targeting specific overworked areas of the body, which can aid in recovery as you wind down your day and prepare to sleep. Perform them individually or as a sequence before bedtime.
1. Modified Sun
Focus on linking your breath with the movement and using natural belly breathing.
- Stand tall with feet comfortably together and arms at your sides.
- Inhale while lifting your arms overhead, palms facing one another. Stretch your fingers to the sky and press down into the ground through your feet.
- Exhale while you float your arms down to your sides.
- Repeat the movement for five or more deep breaths.
2. Standing Side Bend
Side bends create space and release tension in the muscles of the side body.
- Stand tall with feet hip width apart and pelvis inside a neutral position.
- Inhale as you reach your arms overhead with palms facing one another.
- Exhale as you bring your right-hand to your hip while your left arm reaches up and also over.
- Inhale and return to center with both arms reaching overhead.
- On your next exhale, repeat around the opposite side.
- Inhale and return to center.
- Repeat five times per side, synchronizing breath with movement.
3. Forward Fold
This pose helps release tension within the hamstrings, back, shoulders, neck — and more.
- Stand tall with your shoulders over your hips.
- With a soft bend in your knees, hinge at the hips to fold forward, bringing your torso toward your legs.
- Let your arms hang by your legs, or try crossing your forearms to hold the opposite elbows.
- Allow your head to hang heavy and let your upper body surrender to gravity.
- With each exhalation, relax more deeply into the pose.
- Hold for five deep breaths.
4. Forward Fold to Half Lift
Lifting your torso and extending your front body away from your legs creates a deep stretch.
- From forward fold, breathe deeply and lift your torso until your back is parallel to the floor; draw your shoulders down and from your ears.
- Gently rest your arms in your legs and keep your neck in a neutral position aligned together with your spine. Exhale.
- Inhale, then lower to forward fold around the exhale, moving slowly and deliberately as you focus on your breathing. Repeat for five rounds.
5. Cat-Cow
Flow between cat and cow to stretch and relax your core and back muscles.
- Lower onto all fours, shoulders over wrists, and hips over knees. Inhale.
- Exhale to round your back upward, tucking your chin for your chest and reaching your midback toward the ceiling; this is cat pose.
- Inhale to arch your spine, cutting your belly toward the floor and lifting your tailbone, shoulders, and head. Lookup slightly; this is cow pose.
- Repeat five times, synchronizing breath with movement.
6. Child’s Pose
Child’s pose opens up your shoulders and back; adding a reach to the right and left opens up the edges of your body.
- With toes together and knees slightly apart, decrease your hips and drop your forehead toward the floor.
- Reach your arms forward and hold for five breaths.
- Walk both hands a few inches to the right and keep your hips back. Hold for five breaths.
- Move your hands back to the center and hold for five breaths. Then move both hands to the left and hold for five breaths.
7. Fetal Pose on Each Side
A relaxing and resting asana, fetal pose creates a sense of security. Take care in rolling to opposite sides for those who have any shoulder or hip issues. Those who are pregnant are generally advised to lie only on their own left side.
- From child’s pose, slowly roll to one side of your body, keeping your legs stacked and hips aligned.
- Rest your head on your hand and allow your top arm to find a comfortable position in front of the body or along your side.
- Inhale and exhale deeply and slowly for five or more breaths before switching sides.
8. Savasana
This restorative closing pose promotes mindfulness, body awareness, and recovery.
- Lie with legs extended and arms slightly from your sides with palms up.
- Tune in to your breathing as you surrender to gravity, relaxing your body toward the floor or bed.
- Starting at the feet, focus on relaxing and releasing tension inside your toes; move up your body before you reach the top of your head.
- Rest here for five minutes or more. If you have trouble relaxing the mind, focus on counting long, slow, deep breaths, from 20 to 1.
This article has been updated. It had been originally published on March 18, 2021.