Yoga Sequence to Let Go of Difficult Emotions
Get rid of negative energy for good with these yoga poses.
Do you ever find it difficult to let go of unhealthy emotions? Maybe you frequently hold grudges or cling to unhealthy relationships? Many of us have these same difficulties and struggle with our own inner strength to just let go and move on. Luckily, doing yoga can help us to release negative energy and painful emotions from the past. The practice allows you to find freedom from the past and come back into the present through various poses designed to release tension.
Try the yoga poses below and see your worries begin to float away!
Bound Angle Pose
We tend to hold much of our trauma and emotional energy in our hips. Bound Angle Pose will gently release your hips and help move blocked energy through and out of the body.
Begin seated on your mat. Bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet to touch. Keep your feet on the mat and gently open the soles of your feet with your hands as though you are opening a book. Inhale and lengthen your spine. Exhale and gently allow the knees to relax toward the ground. Repeat for a few breaths.
Upward Facing Dog
To release trapped emotions, we need to be able to communicate effectively. Upward Facing Dog relieves tension in the throat and helps balance and unblock the throat chakra.
Begin on your stomach with your legs extended and the tops of your feet pushing into the ground. Plant your palms on the mat directly beneath your shoulders. As you inhale, push into your hands and lift your body off the mat. Keep your feet grounded. Keep the sternum lifted to avoid compressing the lower spine. Stay here for a few breaths.
Plank Pose
Plank Pose benefits the nervous system and helps strengthen your core. When we’re strong physically, we feel stronger and more confident mentally and emotionally too, so a strong core can help you cope with any challenges you face.
Begin in Table Top Pose with your fingers spread widely. Keep your shoulders active and your gaze in between your hands. Step both feet back, tuck your toes, and lift your knees off the mat. Reach the crown of the head forward and your heels back. Press down actively through each fingertip to protect your wrists. Activate your core to keep your hips lifted. Hold for a few breaths.
Lion Pose
Lion Pose releases tension held in the jaw joint (which is either the result of or can subconsciously cause us to grit our teeth – and in either case, can create a place of stress and fatigue within the jaw). When we’re able to soften the body physically, we can then soften our anxiety about the past to help release negative emotions.
Begin kneeling with your hands resting on your knees. Sit up tall and take a deep inhalation through the nose. As you exhale, open your mouth very wide and reach your tongue toward your chin. Direct your gaze to your third eye or to the tip of your nose. As the breath releases, make a soft “haaa” sound. Be sure not to roar – let the breath do the work, not the vocal chords. Repeat a few times.
Tree Pose
Tree Pose is the perfect balancing posture to help you focus on the present instead of feeling stuck in the past. Focusing on the present, even for a few moments, will help the mind and body release the stagnant energy holding you back.
Begin in Mountain Pose. Bring your body weight into your left foot and find a focal point to set your gaze on (this is called your Drishti). Come onto the ball of the right foot and open your right knee toward the right side of the room. Rest the sole of your right foot on your left calf or left inner thigh (option for full lotus variation if that’s part of your practice). Bring your palms to touch at heart center. Focus on engaging the entire body and standing tall through the spine. Hold for a few breaths, and repeat on the other side.
Standing Pigeon Pose
Standing Pigeon Pose requires your full focus in order to remain balanced, which keeps you in the present moment. Standing Pigeon Pose, or Standing Figure Four, also works on opening your hips, which in turn helps release negative energy and emotions.
Begin in Mountain Pose. Bring your body weight into your left foot and find a focal point in the room. Rest your right ankle on your left thigh and flex the right foot. Bend the left knee and keep the inner thighs and core engaged. Bring your palms to touch in front of your chest. Hold for a few breaths, and repeat on the other side.
All images courtesy of Joanne Moules / YogiApproved.com.
