Tag: exercise for anxiety

Bedtime Yoga: 7 Yoga Moves for Better Sleep

Trouble falling asleep? You’re not alone! Whether you’re dealing with insomnia, restless syndrome or other sleep disorder keeping you up at night, it’s important to craft a proper sleep schedule and bedtime routine to help fight off sleep deprivation. Yoga has many benefits, but it’s especially great to unwind with before bed as it helps relax your body and mind while improving overall sleep quality. Here are a few bedtime yoga poses you can incorporate into your bedtime routine.

Bedtime Yoga: 7 Moves for Better Sleep
*This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

Child’s Pose

Child’s pose, also known as balasana, is a simple pose that helps promote relaxation and calmness while relieving tension in the back and shoulders. This is the perfect pose to engage in after a long day. Start by kneeling on the floor with your toes together and hips should-width apart. Slowly push your hips back and rest your chest in between your thighs. 

Then, rest your forehead on the ground and stretch your arms forward. Hold this pose for three to five minutes or longer if you’d like. Take slow and steady breaths through your nose as you hold this pose. If you feel comfortable, try slowly rocking your head back and forth. This helps relieve any tension you may be feeling in your brow. To ensure you’re comfortable in this pose, wear a comfortable pair of yoga leggings so you’re able to feel the stretch and aren’t restricted by your clothing.  

Cat and Cow Pose

Though it has an interesting name, cat and cow pose is extremely effective for relieving tension in your spine, shoulders and lower back while also promoting mental relaxation. Begin on your hands and knees with your wrists lined up with your shoulders. Inhale into cow pose by bringing the top of your head and your tail bone up to the ceiling. Then, exhale into cat pose by tilting the crown of your head down and arching your spine. 

Focus on drawing your belly button in toward your spine while you’re in the cat pose to allow for a deeper stretch. Repeat the sequence five to 20 times, remembering to take slow and deep inhales and exhales as you perform the movements.  

Corpse Pose

Also known as savasana, corpse pose is the best way to end your bedtime yoga routine, and best of all, it can be done from your bed. Corpse pose is great for lowering blood pressure and heart rate, relieving tension in your body and promoting relaxation. 

To begin this pose, simply lie on your back with your legs straight in front of you. Relax your arms at your sides with your palms facing up. With your eyes closed, take slow deep belly breaths and allow your body to relax completely. Hold this pose for 10 to 15 minutes, or however long you feel is needed. If you have trouble quieting your mind before bed, try putting on some soothing music or engaging in meditation while you hold the pose.   

Although sleep doesn’t always come easy, unwinding with some bedtime yoga can help you relax so you can get a good night’s rest. For more yoga poses you can do before bed as well as tips for crafting a perfect sleep schedule, check out the infographic guide below. 

bedtime yoga

Author Bio:

Corey Doane is a digital content creator who helps Adidas create helpful and compelling stories worth sharing. Her background in digital marketing and creative writing has led her to cover unique topics ranging from business to eco to lifestyle. 

8 Natural Methods for Coping with Anxiety

Anxiety is a common condition among moms and not just in the postpartum period.

It can be difficult to recognize the symptoms of anxiety, especially for new moms.  Once you become responsible for another life, it’s natural to worry about everything.  So how do you truly know when your worries are a normal part of motherhood, or when they’re a condition that requires further treatment?  You can read about the specific types of anxiety disorders and their symptoms, but what it comes down to is whether or not your constant state of worry is disrupting your life. 

If they are, then check out some of these natural methods for coping with anxiety from mental health advocate Brandon Christensen of Modern Therapy.
Natural Methods for Coping With Anxiety
This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post contains affiliate and/or paid links which means that if you click on one of these links and buy a product, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that I only recommend products that I love from companies that I trust. The information provided here is not meant to be a replacement for medical advice or treatment.
Natural Methods for Coping With Anxiety

Everyone faces anxiety daily, but some of us live with more persistent symptoms. Anxiety is actually the most common mental health issue, reportedly affecting more than 18% of US adults. Natural remedies and lifestyle changes are a great way to remedy some of these symptoms, but they are never meant to replace or stop any treatments you are currently receiving. If you are already getting treatment, check with your doctor, psychiatrist, or therapist prior to implementing any changes.

Everything You Need to Know About Postpartum Anxiety
.

1. Exercise

Exercise helps anxiety by burning off anxious energy. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, there is evidence that physically active people have lower rates of anxiety and depression than those who are sedentary. The reason that exercise may improve mental health is because it helps the brain cope better with stress. The study actually showed that those who exercised regularly had a 25% less chance of developing depression or anxiety over the preceding five years.

2. Meditation

Meditation eases anxiety by slowing racing thoughts, which is a very common symptom. Once you are able to slow your thoughts down, you can manage your stress and other anxiety symptoms more effectively. Brain imaging has been used to show that meditation is associated with the activation of the anterior cingulate cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and anterior insula. These areas of the brain are involved with executive function and the control of worrying. When meditation activates these three regions, it shows a relief linked to anxiety.

Meditation Tips for People Who Hate to Meditate
.

3. Journaling

Journaling is simply writing down your thoughts and feelings with the intent of understanding them more clearly. Keeping a journal allows you to reflect on the way certain situations make you feel, which can help you regain control of your emotions. Sometimes even just expressing your anxious feelings makes them more manageable. As you sit and reflect on how you are feeling, you are going to gain a lot of insight to yourself.

4. Time Management Strategies

Having too many commitments at once is a big cause of anxiety symptoms. Time commitments usually involve family, work, and health related activities. When you are able to manage your time effectively, you can focus on just one task at a time, while being sure to leave room for self-care. With online calendars, it is becoming even easier to plan your days and weeks out. This can help you avoid multitasking, which leads to anxiety symptoms.

.

5. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils that are found in plants, which are used for their healing properties. Essential oils are great to smell, but can also be absorbed through the skin through massage or inhalation. It is widely used to reduce stress because certain scents, such as lavender, are known for their calming effects by reducing the heart rate in the short term. Behavioral psychologists will also tell you that if you associate a certain scent with being calm, you will naturally begin to feel those effects over time.

6. Herbal Teas

Chamomile tea is widely used as a natural remedy to decrease anxiety and treat insomnia. It is actually regarded as a mild tranquilizer or sleep inducer. The calming effects can be attributed to an antioxidant call apigenin, which is found in chamomile tea. There is direct effect on the brain, including reduced anxiety. Some people also find the process of making and drinking tea soothing.

16 Ways Ecotherapy is Good for Moms
.

7. Time With Animals

Research confirms that pets can be beneficial to people with anxiety because they offer companionship, love, and support. Pets and therapy animals can help to alleviate stress and anxiety because they provide a sense of security and routine that provides emotional and social support. Pets are generally facilitators of getting to know people, friendship formation, and social support networks.

@running_in_triangles on Instagram

8. Talk Therapy

Research shows that talk therapy is usually the most effective way to treat anxiety disorders. Therapy will do more than just treat your symptoms, it will help you uncover the underlying causes of your worries and fears, help you learn to relax, look at situations differently, and develop coping skills. When you engage in talk therapy, you get the tools to overcome anxiety. If you are ready to work with a talk therapist who specializes in anxiety treatment, click here!

Author: Brandon Christensen

Brandon Christensen is a passionate business leader and mental health advocate who is on a mission to leave the world a better place than he found it. Brandon is the co-founder of Modern Therapy, a mental healthcare company that provides talk therapy services in person or online through messaging, phone, and video sessions. Brandon has been featured as a keynote speaker on mental health topics at colleges like NYU, Skidmore College, and Columbia University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ramapo College of New Jersey.