Yoga Poses to Calm Stress and Reduce Anger

Sometimes we let our emotions get the better of us. We get angry and want to punch something, or shout at the top of our lungs. However, we can’t do that because that’s not exactly normal. It’s okay to feel this way, after all we’re only human. We can’t always control how we feel, but what we can do is change how we react to our emotions. Instead of kicking and screaming, or in my case crying, here’s a new idea: yoga! Below will be a list of yoga poses to practice when you’re particularly wound up to help release the anger and frustration inside of you and turn it into calm, happy thoughts. 

Breath of Fire

If there was ever a more appropriate name for an anger reducing yoga pose, this would be it. Start with your legs crossed and back straight, with your arms resting on your thighs. Then take quick, strong breaths out through your nose for twenty five seconds straight. At the end of the twenty five seconds let your last breath out slowly, reaching your arms up to the sky and feeling the anger slip through your fingers and out of your body. Make sure your breaths are sharp and coming from your diaphragm, you can even put your hand on your stomach to feel the breaths enter and exit.

Bicycle Crunches

Some might consider this one more of a gym workout than a yoga pose, but you’d be surprised with how many workouts and poses can be interchangeable. Start on your back with your hands on the back of your head and your legs lifted straight off the ground at least six inches. Begin by bringing one knee into the opposite elbow and then straighten it back out, repeating with the next leg. Make sure not to put stress on your neck, instead feel it in your abdomen. Whenever I’m angry and do bicycle crunches, I like to believe I’m kicking out the anger and resentment in me. If that doesn’t work I just pretend I’m kicking whoever made me angry. By doing this pose it helps you to feel more powerful and strong, which always makes me feel better when I’m feeling small and/or angry. 

Horse Stance Punches

If the other poses didn’t help with the fury inside of you, this one definitely will. Stand with your legs a little more than shoulder width apart and slightly bent for strength. Make your hands into fists and have them at your sides, fist up, with your elbows tight to your body. With your shoulders straight and head up, take ten strong, quick punches straight ahead of you, rotating your fist and bringing it back into its spot by your ribs after. You can do this one time or fifty times, however many it takes to make you feel better.

These are only a few yoga poses that you can do to help quell the anger that sometimes takes over us. Of course you can always meditate if that works best for you, but sometimes we can’t sit still when all we want to do is go. If this doesn’t work for you there’s always breathing exercises to practice and punching bags to hit. Whatever works best for you.