4 Practices & Poses To Elevate Your Mood

Deep breathing: Close your eyes, focus on your breath. Inhale deeply though the nose into the belly. Count to four as you inhale, and exhale through the nose. This is also known as belly or abdominal breathing and it is known to have a number of benefits, as it is the basis for meditation and relaxation.
It will most certainly increase the supply of oxygen in your body, thus accelerating the travel of nutrients and blood everywhere. It also stimulates the “relaxation response” which in its turn switches off the “stress response” in your nervous system. It is basically telling your body in a language it understands, to chill out and calm down because you are going to be just fine. Mood: elevated.

Cat cow: With shoulders over the wrists and hips over the knees, inhale as you expand your belly towards the ground, then exhale your belly button towards your spine and lift to allow your chin to rest on your chest. Cat cow helps you find freedom in the body, which can feel truly medicinal.
This pose is associated with elevated emotional balance and stability of the mind, as it increases flexibility of the neck, shoulders and spine. This is a flow that enables you to experience joy, as well as finding inspiration within yourself.
Balancing table pose: A restorative posture if we’ve ever seen one, it starts with a kneeling position with both palms on the floor right under your shoulders, followed by lifting your arm of choosing with its opposing leg straight out keeping them parallel to the ground. Be sure to continue this process with the other arm and leg. It can’t be said enough times how physical balance of the body can only be achieved when there is a mental balance. As you do this, your body enters a totally balanced and harmonious state. Your brain calms down, and is freed of any stress harboring in your mind.

Child’s pose: A true resting pose, and one that you can hold for long period of time without the need for props. Kneel on the floor touching your big toes together and sit on your heels while separating your knees as wide as your hips. As you exhale, lay your torso between your thighs and your arms alongside your chest with your palms facing up. Not only is it super calming for the mind, it’s also great for your digestion and your lower back. This pose in particular is one of our favorites when we’re looking to cultivate a sense of rest and the ability to take time out of our everyday busy lives to re-charge our human batteries. With time, resting on the mat will ultimately mirror rest in your life.

Camel pose: This pose will become on of your go-to’s. Start by kneeling on your mat with your torso lifted, then place your hands on your hips with your elbows pointed back and your chest expanded. Finally, one at a time, place your hands on your heels or behind your feet, and push them down so you can extend your hips and chest forward. The main physical benefits of this pose it that it releases tension in the lower back by rendering it more flexible over time, as well as opening up the hips and hip flexors. It is subsequently perfect for those who find themselves slouching forward over a computer or desk all day. Camel pose also energizes the body and decreases stress and anxiety. It
might increase your creativity too, as it allows you to better recognize and control your emotions.