Multiple studies have shown practicing yoga is one of the best ways of keeping depression at bay. Some yoga poses help improve your blood circulation and stimulates your brain, making you feel happier and relaxed. The best part about yoga is that it is a side-effect-free way of managing depression, unlike medications. However, you must know that practicing any random yoga pose won’t provide relief from depression. Here we have listed a few poses that are effective in bringing stability to your mind and body.

Child pose (Balasana)

Child pose is a resting pose that deeply calms your mind and alleviates stress and anxiety. The pose gently stretches your hips, thighs, and ankles, which helps your entire body relax. It’s a comfortable and straightforward pose that anyone can try to get some relief from depression. It would help if you tried to stay in the position for a couple of minutes, as it may take a little while for your mind to settle.

Bridge pose (Sethu Bandhasana)

Bridge pose can help bring stillness to your mind, thereby alleviating stress and depression. It gives a beautiful stretch to your entire spine, chest, and neck, opening your heart, and creating a feeling of comfort and ease throughout your body and mind. It’s also an excellent asana to stimulate your abdominal organs and boost digestion.

Plow pose (Halasana)

The plow pose soothes your mind and gives a nice stretch to your shoulders and spine. Practicing this pose is an excellent way to keep headache, backache, and insomnia at bay. It also stimulates your stomach and thyroid gland. Plus, it helps women to get relief from some menopause symptoms as well.

Upward-facing dog pose (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana)

Practicing this pose can give you relief from mild depression and tiredness. The stance gives a rejuvenating stretch to your chest, lungs, shoulder, and abdomen, strengthening your spine and arms. It is a very effective pose to awaken your upper body and bring peace to your mind.

Shoulderstand (Salamba Sarvangasana)

It’s an excellent pose to practice when you’re irritated as it helps quieten your emotion and bring stillness to your mind. Shoulderstand stimulates your thyroid and prostate glands, and abdominal organs, and helps improve digestion. It also gives you a feeling of freshness and can cure insomnia.

Standing forward fold pose (Uttanasana)

This pose helps relieve strain in your back, shoulders, and enhances your nervous system performance. It dramatically alleviates anxiety and fatigue, making you feel calm and poised. It gives a rejuvenating stretch to your hamstrings, calves, hips, and also improves digestion.

Savasana (Corpse Pose)

Savasana gives your body and mind the ultimate relaxation, which helps calm your brain, and relieve stress and mild depression. Savasana is often the last pose of the sequence of asanas, as it allows the effects of previous asanas to sink in. You can lie in the position for 10 minutes or longer to relax deeply.