https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/4-restorative-poses-soothe-stress

4 Restorative Yoga Poses to Soothe Holiday Stress

Have a to-do list that could rival Santa's? It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the holidays, which is why you need yoga more than ever.

DANA MELTZER ZEPEDA

DEC 9, 2014

Photos by James Wvinner

When you have a to-do list that could rival Santa's, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the holiday season. That's why you need yoga more than ever right now.

“You practice yoga to find joy and peace in your life all year long,” says Leslie Kazadi, a restorative yoga teacher in Santa Monica, California. “Then the holidays arrive—a whole season devoted to joy and peace—yet these are not the words that come to mind when you imagine shopping at the mall, navigating traffic at the airport, or circumnavigating the in-laws at holiday gatherings. Yoga is the calm in the storm of the merry-making madness.”

Kazadi created this 20-minute restorative yoga sequence exclusively for YJ readers to help you relax and truly enjoy all the season has to offer. “Restorative yoga shifts you out of the stress response into the relaxation response so you can deeply rest and rejuvenate,” she explains.

Time

Spend 5 minutes in each supported posture. Set a time so you can focus on savoring each moment of stillness, tracing the steady rhythm of your breath, enjoying the pleasure of simply being.

Props

This sequence requires a mat, a strap, two blankets, a bolster, and an eye pillow.

See alsoWhy You Need Restorative Yoga This Winter

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 DANA MELTZER ZEPEDA