Anxious: do this. Legs up the Couch

Anxiety is an emotion like any other emotion and we all have the ability at any given time to experience it.  Some of us are more prone to experiencing it than others or we may be in a more stressful environment.  Whatever the reason, anxiety is not a comfortable emotion to feel.
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This yoga asana which is simply called “legs up the couch” (sometimes it really is just that simple) is a great way to begin reducing our anxiety level and lowering our heart rate. It is a very gentle inversion.  Inversions are great for boosting our mood. For example, the granddaddy of inversions is a head stand, and this is a very gentle way to get the same benefits as a head stand for your mood. Whenever we invert, which means hips/legs are higher than our head, it does wonderful things for us.

1.  It allows our heart to take a break.  Your heart doesn’t have to pump as hard, gravity assist the return of blood to your heart. Try it.  You will notice your heart rate begin to lower.​
   
2. Boosts Mood.  In yoga we talk about changing our perspective and how that can translate when we are off the mat. When you invert you have an opportunity to slow your heart, your breath, and become more mindful of your emotions and your perspective.
3. Immune Function - Not only is gravity assisting in blood flow, but it also assists in flow of the lymphatic fluid. The lymphatic fluid is full of white blood cells and when it gets backed up in places we can experiencing swelling/inflammation in your extremities. When we place our legs up, gravity assists in the return of the lymphatic system.  During the process of returning this fluid, the lymph nodes assess the lymph and plan to fight any suspected infection. Keeping this system functioning optimally keeps us healthier overall.

​Lay on the floor and place your legs up on the couch or a chair. Roll your shoulders up, back and down, rolling your shoulder blades together with our palms face up down at your sides.  This opens up your chest and your heart, so you can begin taking deeper, longer, and even inhales and exhales.
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Stay in this position for several minutes until you become aware of the anxiety subsiding, heart rate slowing, and breathing becoming more steady.