Mood-boosting Yoga Moves

Yoga is not just an exercise that increases flexibility, builds muscle strength, and improves balance. The practice of yoga offers many other health benefits as well, like supporting joint mobility and aiding in deeper sleep. But the mind-body connection acheived in yoga is unparalleled. The movements, twists, and inversions require intense concentration, effectively getting the blood flowing and regulating breathing. As a result, your energy will give you a brighter perspective and put you in a better mindset for the day by making you feel more relaxed and releasing stress. While doing yoga regularly can have transformative potential for your mind and body, there are specific yoga moves that are immediate mood-boosters.

Release Stress with Balancing Yoga Moves

Balancing yoga moves help build a strong foundation for your practice and mental health. When you balance, you are forced to clear your mind of any clutter and focus on your goal of standing strong. In doing so, you are effectively releasing the stress or tension that is clouding your mind at the time, which successfully improves your mood when you step off the mat.

Tree Pose (Vriksasana)

The Tree Pose is the simplest of the balancing yoga moves. — Tree Pose

The Tree Pose is the simplest standing balance pose. However, standing on one leg is harder than it looks. It strengthens your legs and core while opening your hips and stretching your inner thighs and groin muscles. By balancing in this yoga move, you’re concentrating on inner strength and centering your mind and body, which is sure to elevate your mood.

Warrior Pose (Virabhadrasana)

The Warrior Pose is a mood-boosting yoga move. — Warrior Pose

The Warrior Pose is a standing yoga pose that helps build focus, strength, and stability. With this yoga move, you place one leg behind, hips forward, and chest lifted. Opening the heart develops courage, and the alignment of the body helps build techniques of body awareness. You will step off the mat feeling more confident.

Dancer Pose (Natarajasana)

Dancer Pose promotes balance and helps alleviate stress and anxiety. — Dancer Pose

The Dancer Pose is a powerful posture that requires full-body strength, flexibility, and coordination. One of the more challenging standing balance poses, the Dancer pose can be pushed deeper and deeper by advanced yogis. It opens the shoulders, chest, and hips. It stretches and strengthens the thighs, ankles, and abdomen while developing greater flexibility in your spine, shoulders, and hamstrings. This yoga move will leave you feeling satisfied and accomplished.

Other balancing yoga moves:

Eagle Pose
Half-moon Pose
Chair Pose
Side Plank Pose

Feel More Relaxed with Restorative Yoga Moves

Restorative yoga poses rejuventate the body and naturally restore the mind. They significantly help with the practice of breath control, or pranayama. It is the slow, controlled, deep breathing that is beneficial for reducing anxiety and lowering stress levels. By combining deep and relaxed breaths with yoga moves, you will instantly feel calmer and more positive.

Corpse Pose (Savasana)

The corpse pose is restorative and helps with relaxation and breathing. — Corpse Pose

The Corpse Pose does not sound very appealing, but it is one of the easiest and most important restorative yoga moves. In this pose, you lay flat on your back and block out any external distractions. This gives you the opportunity to internalize your energy and let the mind reach of point of clarity and relaxation. You will feel lighter and more refreshed after.

Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana)

The Happy Baby Pose is a restorative yoga move with many holistic benefits. Simply lie on your back and bring your knees to your shoulders while grabbing both feet. This relaxing posture is easy yet invigorating, and it helps to release nervous energy and anxiety.

Child’s Pose (Balasana)

Child's pose is a restorative yoga pose. — Child’s Pose

Ahh, Child’s Pose. A true resting position, Chld’s Pose gives you that much needed break between those long yoga sequences. It helps to calm the mind while stretching the hips, thighs, and ankles. This restorative yoga move is a simple way to relax your mind and body, slow your breath, and feel more refreshed.

Other restorative yoga moves:

Leg-up-the-wall Pose
Reclining Hero Pose
Reclining Bound Angle Pose

Get the Blood Flowing with Inversions

Literally and figuratively flip your perspective and find your inner strength with Inversions. While they are not the easiest yoga moves, Inversions have many health benefits, like eliminating toxins, encouraging positive energy, and increasing the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain. By flipping your body upside down, the circulation of blood throughout the body is increased, producing a natural antidepressant while stimulating the nervous system and calming the mind. Mastering Inversions can help you overcome your fear and build confidence, making you happier.

Headstand (Sirsasana)

Headstands are inversions that get the blood flowing and make you feel more energized. — Headstand

Supported Headstands are an inversion that helps send nutrient-rich blood to your head. By using your forearms to balance your core, the pressure on the crown stabilizes the mood and the emotions. Being in the inverted position improves mental function and will leave you feeling more focused and energized.