11 Yoga Poses to Cure Election Stress
While it’s cool your patriotic duty to stay informed about the presidential candidates’ platforms, and it can be fun to keep up with all the drama, endless election chatter can be stressful. But there’s no reason to suffer until the next POTUS takes his or her oath.
"Yoga can be very helpful in this political climate because it provides moments of concentration and meditation that are calming," says physician Jennifer Caudle, DO, assistant professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Now that she’s seeing an uptick in stress among her patients, many of whom end up discussing politics during their wellness visits, she’s prescribing the ancient practice - particularly for people with political opinions that differ from family and friends, as this often triggers tension.
So, when you can’t handle hearing another person drone on about the state of our country (or pledge their allegiance to Canada), perform these yoga poses to chill TF out.
~The Poses~
Try this side angle to extended triangle stretch to relax when opposing parties can’t seem to find a middle ground.
How to do it: Take a wide stance and turn your right foot out. Extend your arms out to the sides. Bend your right knee 90 degrees as you lean right from the waist to place your right palm on the ground near the inside of your right foot. Keep the chest open and shoulders stacked, extend the right knee as you stretch your left fingertips toward the sky. Come back up to standing position and repeat on the opposite side.
This gentle flow will open your chest and cool you down when election politics rile you up.
How to do it: Stand with your feet about hips-distance apart and raise both arms out to the sides and straight up overhead. Grounding your toes to promote stability, reach your arms back behind you for a gentle backward bend. Next, bring the arms back overhead and fold forward from the waist as you reach your arms to the ground. Slowly return to starting position and continue at your own pace.
When a candidate’s questionable word choice worries you about the country’s future, just hang out in this pose to feel better ASAP.
How to do it: Take a wide stance and bend forward from the waist to let your head hang heavy. Grasp opposite elbows in opposite hands and swing back and forth if desired, or let your hands fall to the ground and gently nod, “Yes, I am calm,” or “No, I can’t believe an IRL presidential candidate referred to immigrants as ‘bad hombres.’”
With all the talk about building a wall along the border to keep immigrants from coming into the country, this pose will remind you that you can still get out, regardless.
How to do it: Lie on your back, and bend your knees to bring your heels towards your butt, feet about hips-width apart. Extend your arms along your sides, and press into the palms and heels to raise your hips up off the ground as high as you can go. Clasp your hands beneath you and inch your shoulder blades together as you open your chest. Breath deeply and lower your hips whenever you’re ready.
Do this pose when someone claims they’re not voting because they don’t like either candidate.
How to do it: Standing with your feet about hips-width apart and bend forward from the waist. Walk your hands forward into plank position. Rest your knees on the ground and sit your hips back, resting your butt on your thighs. Widen your knees to give your belly room to breathe as you rest your forehead on the ground, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Hold as long as you’d like.
Try this pose whenever anyone mentions the Green Party or suggests Bernie Sanders does not support Hillary Clinton.
How to do it: Start with your feet together, toes facing forward. Raise your arms overhead and bend forward from the waist to place your fingertips or palms on the floor, framing your feet. Shift your weight into your right foot and kick your left leg up straight behind you, stretching the toes toward the ceiling. Turn your gaze upward as you extend the left arm straight up toward the ceiling, stacking the shoulders and opening the hips. Hold for a few breaths, then return to starting position and repeat on the opposite side.
Try this pose the next time someone tells you they’ll deport themselves if Trump wins.
How to do it: Start with feet about hips-width apart, toes facing forward. Extend both arms straight up overhead. From this position, bend to the left, reaching both arms in that direction. Hold for as long as you’d like, breathing deeply the entire time. Then return to starting position and repeat on the opposite side.
Try this pose when someone questions whether Hillary Clinton has the stamina to lead the country to prove you know what stamina is all about.
How to do it: If you’re a beginner, face a wall and crouch about two feet in front of it. Place both palms on the ground ahead of your feet, grounding them about shoulders-width apart from each other. Next, place the crown of your head where the point of the triangle would be if each palm and your head formed three tips of an equilateral triangle. Shift your weight forward and place one knee, then the other, on top of each elbow. Once you’ve mastered that, engage your core (or enlist a partner) to extend one leg at a time straight up overhead, resting your legs against the wall for support if needed. Hold for as long as you can/would like to, breathing deeply.
Enlist a photographer to catch you in this pose so you can post it braggadociously on Instagram.
How to do it: After you master the Stamina Standasana, you’ll be ready to try this advanced progression. Enlist an experienced spotter as you get into Stamina Standasana position. When you feel stable, remove your hands from the ground and bring the palms together in front of your chest. Hold for as long as you can/would like to, breathing deeply. Bring the palms back to the ground when you’re ready to come out of this position.
This one is only “nasty” because it makes strong, tight quads hurt so bad.
How to do it: Lie on your stomach and bend your knees to bring your heels toward your head as you reach behind you to wrap your hands around the outside of your feet. Arch your back and lift your chest, keeping your shoulders away from your ears, as you bring your head and heels together and away from the ground. Inhale and exhale deeply.
Because this too will end.
How to do it: Lie face up on the ground and extend your arms out to the sides with palms facing up. Extend your legs and let the feet fall out to the sides. Breathe.
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