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    Yoga Journal Yoga Poses Yoga Poses by Benefit

    Yoga Poses for Anxiety

    Feeling anxious or overwhelmed? These yoga poses for anxiety can help you calm your mind and find your center.

    • Yoga Poses for Anxiety
    • Yoga Poses for Asthma
    • Yoga Poses for Back Pain
    • Yoga Poses for Calm
    • Yoga for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • Yoga Poses for Depression
    • Yoga Poses for Digestion
    • Yoga Poses to Boost Your Energy
    • Yoga for Fatigue
    • Yoga and Fitness: Poses for Athletes
    • Yoga Poses for Flexibility
    • Yoga Poses for Headaches
    • Yoga for High Blood Pressure
    • Yoga Poses for Insomnia
    • Yoga Poses for Menopause
    • Yoga Poses for Menstruation
    • Yoga for Neck Pain
    • Yoga Poses for Osteoporosis
    • Pregnancy Yoga Poses
    • Yoga Poses for Sciatica
    • Yoga Poses for Stress Relief
    More
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Big Toe Pose

      YJ Editors
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Bound Angle Pose

      YJ Editors
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Bow Pose

      YJ Editors
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Bridge Pose

      YJ Editors
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Camel Pose

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Cat Pose

      YJ Editors
      Poses by Type

      Nadi Shodhana Pranayama: Channel-Cleaning Breath

      YJ Editors
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Cow Pose

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Easy Pose

      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Extended Puppy Pose

      YJ Editors
      Poses by Type

      Extended Triangle Pose

      YJ Editors
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Fish Pose

      YJ Editors
      Balancing Yoga Poses

      Half Moon Pose

      YJ Editors
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Head-to-Knee Pose

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Legs Up the Wall Pose

      YJ Editors
      Poses by Type

      Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      How to Practice Anjali Mudra or Salutation Seal

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Seated Forward Bend

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Staff Pose

      YJ Editors
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Standing Forward Bend

      Poses by Type

      Upward Salute

      YJ Editors

      Latest in Yoga Poses for Anxiety

      Practice Yoga

      5 Restorative Yoga Poses That Make Us Want to Go Lie Down

      Because rest is revolutionary.

      Calin Van Paris
      Published May 12, 2025
      Yoga Poses for Anxiety

      9 Yoga Poses for Anxiety Relief

      Some of these might surprise you.

      Abbie Mood
      Updated Feb 19, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Cat Pose

      How to avoid falling into autopilot while practicing this basic—but beneficial—stretch.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Cow Pose

      Bitilasana is an easy, gentle way to warm up the spine before a more vigorous practice.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      This Is the Secret to Getting More Out of Your Forward Bends

      “Going deeper” into your pose has nothing to do with how it looks.

      Bernadette Soler
      Published Jan 3, 2022
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Bound Angle Pose

      Bound Angle Pose, or Baddha Konasana, opens the deepest part of the hip muscles.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      These 4 Restorative Yoga Poses Will Completely Reset Your Mood

      When you need to approach any situation—or, let's be honest, life—from a calmer place, this quiet practice is your solution.

      Tamika Caston-Miller
      Published Dec 17, 2021
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Staff Pose

      It might look straightforward, but there's more to Dandasana than meets the eye.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 23, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Seated Forward Bend

      A simple pose that's anything but easy.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Legs Up the Wall Pose

      There's a general consensus among modern yogis that Viparita Karani or Legs Up the Wall Pose may have the power to cure whatever ails you.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 27, 2025
      Practice Yoga

      Why You Should Laugh, Sigh, Yell, & Even Sob During Your At-Home Yoga Practice

      Feel free to let it all out.

      Sarah Ezrin
      Published Nov 29, 2021
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Easy Pose

      Don't let the name fool you. If you're used to sitting in chairs, Easy Pose (or Sukhasana) can be quite challenging.

      Updated Mar 14, 2025
      Poses by Type

      Extended Triangle Pose

      Extended Triangle Pose is a quintessential standing pose that stretches and strengthens the whole body.

      YJ Editors
      Published Nov 11, 2021
      Yoga Poses for Anxiety

      These 7 Yoga Poses Will Help You Relax (Even If You’re Really, Really Stressed)

      If you're notoriously bad at relaxing, these calming poses will help you release *everything.*

      Ellen O'Brien
      Updated Apr 24, 2025
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Bridge Pose

      Setu Bandha Sarvangasana can be whatever you need—energizing, rejuvenating, or luxuriously restorative.

      YJ Editors
      Published Nov 10, 2021
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Standing Forward Bend

      Uttanasana will wake up your hamstrings and soothe your mind.

      Updated Mar 23, 2025
      Yoga Poses for Anxiety

      These Practices Will Allow You to (Finally!) Let Go of Stress & Anxiety

      Release your tension and relax with these grounding practices.

      Ellen O'Brien
      Published Nov 3, 2021
      Yoga Poses for Anxiety

      Start Your Day With This Grounding Yoga Flow

      In this 13-minute practice, you'll connect with your breath—and open your upper body.

      Jillian Pransky
      Published Nov 3, 2021
      Yoga Poses for Anxiety

      Can’t Relax? This Yoga Practice Is For You

      Here come the deep sighs.

      Jillian Pransky
      Published Nov 3, 2021
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Camel Pose

      Bump up your energy (and confidence!) by bending back into Camel Pose. Ustrasana counteracts slouching and relieves lower back pain with a generous, heart-opening stretch.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Ayurveda

      10 Grounding Poses to Balance Your Vata Dosha This Fall

      Ever feel as airy and unstable as leaves swirling in the wind? That's your vata dosha out of balance. This slow yoga practice will help settle your energy and bring you back to calm.

      Dana Slamp
      Published Oct 21, 2021
      Poses by Type

      Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose

      Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose, or Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana, offers a deep, vivid stretch to the side body paired with loving and heart-opening movement.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 21, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Why Is Child’s Pose So Insanely Calming?

      We've seen an explosion of memes about Child's Pose over the last year and a half. Coincidence? We think not.

      Sarah Herrington
      Published Oct 20, 2021
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Bow Pose

      Bend back into the shape of a bow to feel energetically locked, loaded, and ready to take aim.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Guided Meditation

      10 Steps of Yoga Nidra

      Release stress and tension by learning the yoga practice for ultimate relaxation.

      Richard Miller
      Published Mar 16, 2021
      Ayurveda

      Boost Your Immunity and Relax Your Body With This At-Home Yoga Practice

      Clear stagnation with this refreshing sequence that stimulates your lymphatic organs.

      Sarah Girard
      Published Apr 3, 2020
      Balance

      Conquer Fear with These Grounding Yoga Poses

      Soothe anxiety and strengthen your body with this centering yoga sequence.

      Sarah Girard
      Published Mar 29, 2020
      Lifestyle

      3 Truths About Anxiety That Can Help You Feel More Like Yourself

      To lessen anxiety, you first need to understand it.

      Amy B. Scher
      Published Jan 31, 2019
      Yoga Poses

      Energy Medicine Yoga: Relieve Anxiety with a Simple 30-Second Practice

      Need some grounding? Lauren Walker shares an Energy Medicine Yoga practice to find calm.

      Lauren Walker
      Published Nov 9, 2018
      Yoga Poses

      How to Form a New Relationship with Your Anxiety

      Whether you suffer from an anxiety disorder or experience bouts of more mild anxiety, here are seven specific ways your yoga practice can help you find relief—both quickly, and over the long haul.

      Kat Fowler
      Published Jul 26, 2018
      Foundations

      3 Kundalini Yoga Meditations to Release Anxiety

      Meditation is a procedure of cleansing the mind and taking out the garbage in the subconscious. These three Kundalini practices passed down by Yogi Bhajan will help you release conscious and subconscious fears that cause stress, worry, and anxiety.

      Ashlee Moosbrugger
      Updated Jan 20, 2025
      Balance

      9 Yoga Tools to Calm Kids’ Back-to-School Anxiety

      While anxiety is natural, yoga and breathing techniques can help students handle the pressures associated with peers, workload and making the grade. Try these 9 yoga tools with your kids for a stress-free start to the semester.

      Erika Prafder
      Updated Jan 20, 2025
      Balance

      Happiness Toolkit: Two-Minute Restorative Poses

      Got two minutes? A short restorative practice can help edit and transform negative inner narratives that reinforce anxiety and depression.

      Bo Forbes
      Updated Jun 12, 2025
      Balance

      This Yoga Sequence Will Train Your Brain to Relax

      Chronic stress
and anxiety wreak havoc on your body. What can help you reset? Yoga.

      Tasha Eichenseher
      Published Feb 3, 2016
      Balance

      Yoga for First Responders: 5 Strategies for Stress + Trauma

      Police officers, firefighters, and others who face extreme stress and trauma on a regular basis can find peace in asana, breath, and affirmation.

      BILL GIEBLER
      Updated Jan 20, 2025
      Balance

      Try This Calming Trend: Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku)

      Spending quiet time in wooded areas is considered medicine in Japan, and the practice—Shinrin-yoku—is catching on here.

      Published Sep 4, 2015
      Balance

      Yoga for Teens: 9 Poses to Beat Back-to-School Jitters

      While anxiety is natural, experts say certain yoga postures can relieve students’ first-day nerves. Start school stress-free.

      Erika Prafder
      Published Aug 27, 2015
      Balance

      6 Steps to Tame Anxiety: Meditation + Seated Poses

      Tame anxiety with this short meditation and seated sequence.

      Lynn Stoller
      Updated Jan 20, 2025
      Ayurveda

      How Yoga Calms Anxiety Holistically

      For those suffering from 
anxiety, yoga can be a lifeline. 
Here’s why doctors are 
increasingly recommending 
it as a complementary therapy.

      Ginny Graves
      Updated Jan 15, 2025
      Benefits of Meditation

      Alexandria Crow’s Meditation for Anxiety

      Not drugs, therapy, or even asana quieted this yoga teacher’s anxiety. Get the trick that worked.

      Alexandria Crow
      Published Nov 10, 2014
      Benefits of Meditation

      Patanjali Never Said Yoga Is Fancy Poses

      Teacher Alexandria Crow explains why yoga’s biggest benefits have nothing to do with mastering advanced asanas and everything to do with mastering the mind.

      Alexandria Crow
      Published Nov 10, 2014
      Balance

      Healing Heartbreak: A Yoga Practice to Get Through Grief

      Move through and beyond loss with a practice that opens both heart and mind, offers strength and comfort in the present, and prepares you for the next leap of faith or love.

      Shannon Sexton
      Published Oct 13, 2014
      Balance

      In Need of Immediate Stress Relief? Try These 3 Deep-Breathing Techniques.

      You'll feel calmer and more centered after these practices.

      Kate Holcombe
      Updated May 21, 2025
      Ayurveda

      Beating Breast Cancer

      Yoga proves to be an ideal approach to self-care for cancer survivors.

      Kelly McGonigal
      Updated Jan 9, 2025
      Benefits of Meditation

      How Yoga Nidra Benefits Mind and Body

      A proven antidote to anxiety, yoga nidra has been adopted by veterans, recovering addicts, and average stressed-out people.

      Katherine Griffin
      Published Mar 2, 2012
      Beginner Yoga Sequences

      Beat Anxiety with Breathwork

      Relieve anxiety naturally with poses that unlock your breath.

      Rolf Sovik
      Published Mar 1, 2012
      Beginner Yoga How-To

      More Than a Toe Touch: Standing Forward Bend

      Learn to pay more attention to how you come in and out of Uttanasana and less to where you end up.

      Cyndi Lee
      Published Dec 8, 2010
      Beginner Yoga How-To

      What You Need to Know Before Practicing Shoulderstand

      There are benefits to being upside down.

      Marla Apt
      Updated Jan 14, 2025
      Balance

      Positively Prana: Yoga Your Way to a Happier Mood

      Yoga teacher Rod Stryker explains how yoga can help you unlock your life-force to feel happier and energized all day.

      Rod Stryker
      Updated Jan 14, 2025
      Beginner Yoga How-To

      How to Practice “Bee Breath” to Help Relieve Anxiety

      Who couldn't use a simple breathing technique that works in seconds?

      Rachel Brahinsky
      Updated Dec 13, 2024
      Balance

      Have Anxiety? Practice Asana

      Learn how you can melt away anxiety's grip on your body and mind with a tension-taming practice.

      Rachel Brahinsky
      Published Dec 2, 2008
      Poses by Type

      Upward Salute

      Urdhva Hastasana translates to "Raised Hands Pose," but it is also sometimes called Talasana, the Palm Tree Pose.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 24, 2025
      Foundations

      Q&A: How Can I Ease Performance Anxiety?

      Shiva Rea offers tips from yoga and Ayurveda for calming nervous energy and anxiety.

      Shiva Rea
      Updated Jan 14, 2025
      Balance

      Feel Happier: Poses for Depression & Anxiety

      Battling depression can feel like a fight for your life. Yoga can help you stop struggling.

      Andrea Ferretti
      Published Oct 27, 2007
      Meditation

      Yoga For Anxiety: How to Let Go and Ease Your Mind

      Therapists are catching on to what yogis have always known: Yoga for anxiety is one of the best ways to ease your mind. Melanie Haiken talks about how yoga has helped her overcome anxiety.

      Melanie Haiken
      Published Aug 28, 2007
      Ayurveda

      Is Yoga Better than Prozac?

      Check out Amy Weintraub's author page.

      Amy Weintraub
      Updated Jan 9, 2025
      Ayurveda

      Asanas for Anxiety

      So many poses, so little time: It's easy to get overwhelmed just trying to figure out which asanas might calm you down.

      Melanie Haiken
      Updated Jan 20, 2025
      Poses by Type

      Nadi Shodhana Pranayama: Channel-Cleaning Breath

      Sometimes considered a preparation for pranayama, other times a formal practice in itself.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Jan 20, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      Extended Puppy Pose

      A cross between Child's Pose and Downward-Facing Dog, Extended Puppy Pose lengthens the spine and calms the mind.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 24, 2025
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Big Toe Pose

      This pose gently lengthens and strengthens even stubbornly tight hamstrings.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 23, 2025
      Yoga Poses for Anxiety

      Upside Down

      Check out Judith Hanson Lasater's author page.

      Judith Hanson Lasater
      Updated Jun 16, 2025
      Backbend Yoga Poses

      Fish Pose

      Boost the body's energy and fight fatigue with Fish Pose, or Matsyasana in Sanskrit, while building confidence with a loving stretch in the shoulders. It is said that if you perform Matsyasana in water, you will be able to float like a fish.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Balancing Yoga Poses

      Half Moon Pose

      Say hello to leg and ankle strength as you seek stability and extend into this balancing pose, Half Moon Pose.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Feb 25, 2025
      Beginner Yoga Poses

      How to Practice Anjali Mudra or Salutation Seal

      Usher in a meditative state of awareness.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Jul 26, 2024
      Forward Bend Yoga Poses

      Head-to-Knee Pose

      Janu Sirsasana, or Head-to-Knee Pose, is appropriate for students of any level and melds a forward bend with a spinal twist.

      YJ Editors
      Updated Mar 22, 2025

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