Have you ever experienced a time when you felt off or sluggish and then did some exercise, and then all of a sudden, you started to feel way better? Sometimes, when we feel down or unmotivated, the best thing we can do to change our mental state is to change our physical state. Mood follows action. Yoga is a great way to help alter your mental state, as regular yoga practice can boost your mood and release anxiety. Research has also found that good posture is linked to better happiness. Thus, practicing yoga will help calm your mind, positively affect your posture, and allow you to return to a state of peace and happiness. To boost your energy and bring a smile to your face, try these 10 yoga for happy mood postures. To further enhance your mood, try taking 1 tsp of Chyawanprash before your yoga practice for ultimate focus and clarity. Chyawanprash will help strengthen all the tissues in your body, support your agni (digestive fire), and increase your overall vitality for a vibrant life. To learn more, check out the advantages of Chyawanprash. 10 Way to Use Yoga for Happy Mood Practice these yoga poses on their own or in a sequence to bring you more happiness and peace. Headstand If you’re looking for a quick mood booster, a headstand is a powerful pose to start in. This pose is one of the best ways to change your perspective dramatically. It’s the complete opposite of the way you may typically live. This a drastic action to help you transform your mood from sappy to happy. If you’re struggling to overcome a challenge in your life, practice a headstand for a fresh perspective. Wide Leg Forward Fold Inversions bring instant energy, which is excellent, but they don’t have to be as scary as they sound. An inversion is simply a pose where your head is below your heart. Many yoga postures are considered inversions and are gentle enough for anyone to practice, no matter your experience level. A wide standing leg forward fold is one of them. This yoga pose is great for focusing your mind and going inward. Imagine all your stress and worry dripping down and out of your head as you fold forward. Let go and feel your worries leaving you. Standing forward fold Similar to a wide-leg forward fold, standing forward fold helps you come back to that bliss state. It is a very grounding pose and considered highly beneficial for vata dosha because it helps you feel grounded. When we feel grounded, we feel secure and more able to take on all facets of life. We become less sensitive, thus more able to enjoy our happiness and then share it with others. Try holding this pose for 2-4 minutes for an awesome experience. Camel pose Camel pose is a deep heart opener and can make you feel brighter and happier! By drawing your shoulder and chest open, you’re suggesting to your body that you’re safe and are open to love. A loving state brings peace, and thus a happy mood. Camel pose can also help you release stuck emotions, which can increase your prana flow and, therefore, boost your happiness level! Bow Pose Another powerful heart opener, the bow pose, opens the entire body. When you intentionally open your body, you’re communicating to yourself that you’re safe and it is ok to play big. Your heart and mood are lifting in the pose and, therefore, can increase your happiness. Try sticking out your tongue for the lion’s breath as you breathe while holding this yoga posture. Downward Facing Dog A classic and robust yoga posture for a happy mood! Downward dog offers a feel-good feeling by engaging the entire body. It is known to reduce stress levels, which directly influence your ability to cultivate peace and happiness. Try holding this posture for 10-full breaths and then relaxing in the child’s pose. For an instant mood booster, try this morning yoga routine to build heat and energy. Legs Up the Wall Talk about a fan favorite yoga pose for a happy mood. Legs up the wall is a gentle and restorative pose that can bring instant relief to anyone who tries it. It can help switch your nervous system from a sympathetic state (fight or flight) to a parasympathetic state (rest and reset), which can calm an overactive mind. If you’re looking for yoga for a happy mood, try legs up the wall. Happy Baby Pose Happy is in the name! It’s bound to get the job done, right? It seems natural that a happy baby pose is an excellent yoga posture to boost your mood and amplify your energy. To practice happy baby, lie with your back on the floor. Your hands then hold your legs or feet in the air. You can gently rock side-to-side to massage your lower spine and allow the mind to slow. By relaxing your mind, you can further increase your happiness level and Wild Thing Pose Wild thing pose is a beautifully strong backbend. Because it opens the heart, this posture builds energy and stamina, increasing your happiness level in the process. Wild thing is a radically fierce yoga pose, and regular practice may help improve your confidence. Try Lion’s breath while holding this posture for more intensity. Goddess Pose With your feet turned out, knees bent, arms open, and heart lifted is a divine feminine power pose. Goddess poses increase blood circulation to the brain, which increases the oxygen exposed to your brain. This increase in oxygen signals your body to release dopamine and endorphins that make you feel happy. While these poses are great to increase your mood, try bringing happiness into your entire practice for an even greater reward. Let go of any perceptions you may have of what can bring you joy and have fun! Get up and move. Happiness will follow! To cultivate more gratitude into your happy practice, discover this gratitude yoga practice. Clare Michalik, Ayurvedic Practitioner @Clareminded
