Anger: we all experience it, and it’s a valid emotion for each and every one of us (no matter the sometimes silly or unimportant seeming reason). One thing to always remember is that your feelings are legitimate, and while there may be an underlying cause for anger that you’re not quite aware of, it doesn’t make your emotions any less important. However, when we do not honor these emotions in a healthy way, whether or not the true cause is an underlying emotion we’re not yet aware of (such as frustration, disappointment, or confusion), anger can result in not only an overall negative feeling, but also in sometimes regrettable overreactions – particularly to those closest to us.

The poses below can help any yogi express and acknowledge their anger in a healthy and fulfilling way, hopefully resulting in an understanding of the true reason of the anger, an acknowledgment of who or what the anger is related to, and how to remedy the situation in a constructive and respectful way – to yourself and to others.

1. Child’s Pose

This is an especially beneficial pose for grief related anger. The calming, protective, and relaxed position of the body can help to offer a soothing way to let out whatever you need to – whether it is a few tears or just a much-needed moment for quiet contemplation and reflection.

While in this pose, allow yourself to feel nurtured and protected while you acknowledge the cause for this grief and anger, allowing it to be released.

2. Half Twist Pose – also know as Half Lord of the Fishes pose

Feeling grouchy? Just wring out the anger, man.

This pose is a wonderful way to get a satisfying stretch in and relieve tension that can often rest in the areas of the hips and back.

3. Vigorous Sun Salutations

You know that feeling of punching the bag in a kickboxing class? You may not know it, but that feeling can be translated to yoga as well! Try a few sets of vigorous sun salutations on your favorite mat – enough to work up a good sweat and allow yourself to work out any frustrations of the day, leaving yourself relaxed, rejuvenated, and with a renewed lightness.

4. Woodchopper Pose

This is a great way to release tension, especially when used with a loud and energetic “AH!” as you bring your “woodchopper” arms down.

5. Lion’s Breath

Okay, so this one isn’t technically a pose, but it’s an awesome and empowering Pranayama breathing technique! Set your hands on top of your legs as you breath in through your nose, releasing a loud and breathy exhale from the your belly all the way out as you open your expression as wide as you can while sticking your tongue out. This is a fun and rejuvenating way to release stress and negativity in a way that may or may not have you giggling by the end of it.

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoyed the post above.

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Photo ©Evan Lovely

Yoga continues to grow in popularity throughout the world, and many workplaces are getting on board! As part of corporate wellness initiatives, companies including Apple, Google, Nike and General Motors have begun to offer yoga classes for their employees.

Benefits of yoga in the office include overall health improvements, stress reduction and promoting a community atmosphere among coworkers. Regular practice can increase productivity, concentration and energy levels throughout the work week. Office yoga is designed to be entry-level and low impact, so it’s easier for beginners and those with limited flexibility to participate and see the benefits of regular practice. It also helps to lessen the effects of sitting at a desk all day, where issues like neck strain and carpal tunnel can begin to take a toll.

Want to get a yoga program started at your office? First, you’ll need a quiet and comfortable room that’s large enough to accommodate your employees. You can set aside a lunch room, conference room, or other space that will be free during the class period. And of course you’ll need an instructor! Yoga Alliance is an excellent resource to find instructors in your area. Finally, each participant will need comfy clothing, as well as their own yoga mat, towel  and water bottle.

For all the supplies you’ll need for your office yoga program, visit www.barefootyoga.com!

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I kicked off week 6 of my Yoga Revival with an outdoor yoga session. I have a slight nagging pull in my right upper hamstring from when I “came out of waterskiing retirement early in July.” I feel its presence when bending forward, and so I brought a tennis ball to my yoga mat to massage it along with all the muscles in that lower back and buttocks region. It is a meditative challenge to breathe through such deep massage, and I followed this with gentle hamstring stretches – laying on my back, using a strap while extending each individual leg straight up, then about 45 degrees to the side.

I was happy to feel extra flexibility when I began my standing asana practice. Along with the sound of birds and breeze in the trees, my warm up helped create a grounded feeling that only deepened through my whole 50 minute practice. I have used the tennis ball to knead out sore muscles in a couple of practices since Sunday, along with a brief warm-up using a strap – with similar positive results. I find keeping it brief is helpful, because when I get too comfortable, it becomes harder for me to get going on my sun salutations – which require fortitude, tenacity, and sweat.

Since getting back into a regular yoga practice at the beginning of the summer, I have spent more time doing the “in between” poses that sometimes have been neglected in my yoga practice. I do have some of that type A inclination to jump into things quickly – that fervor over Pattabhi Jois’s call to action – “99% practice, 1% theory.” But I find an extra breath with a lift here, and a pressing down there – is always beneficial. And so in between my first forward bend, and jumping or stepping back to “Chattarunga,” I am conscious to take a moment to lift my knee caps, press down with my heels, and lift my toes and my sternum, while looking up – before going into a deeper forward bend. Sometimes I go up and down like this 5 times before continuing.

And there’s no question – my asana practice is a good warm up for sitting meditation. I try to end all of my asana sessions with at least a 5 minute sitting meditation, followed by sivasana. So my well-used 15 year-old sari zafu was with me, and I ended my practice with a sitting meditation, followed by sivasana.

I’m still trying to work out my life schedule in a way where yoga fits in more naturally and automatically. These days I generally cram it into my very busy life with some difficulty. But even crammed in, I always feel better from yoga practice, and a little warm up goes a long way.

In this picture sits my 15 year-old sari zafu on top of my 1/8” hybrid eco-mat, which sits on top of my Jammu rug.

Posted under Eco-Friendly Yoga Products, Health and Fitness, Meditation, Styles of Yoga, Yoga Mats, Yoga Supplies