Ever been horribly frustrated by a situation?
Or even wanted to stick your tongue out at a person?
Try the fun solution to stress: roar like a lion!
The Lion posture is one of yoga's most enjoyable exercises. Although yoga is an ancient practice, it has a surprising number of solutions to modern problems, including stress build-up. This exercise will help you release tension and boost your immune system – two great reasons to make a start right now.
Be warned – this exercise is so much fun it could revolutionize your life. You may want to colonize a wild corner of your office or home. So round up your colleagues, family and friends for a group roaring session or just have some fun on your own.
You can start either standing or sitting.
Step 1 Start by shaking off tightness in your shoulders, elbows, hands and fingers. Shake each part separately starting with your shoulders and releasing down into your fingers. Close your eyes and make exaggerated and strange faces – really wriggle and twist your face – and make sure you include some in which you open your mouth really wide and relax your jaw.
Step 2 Take a fuller breath in through your nose and release your breath through your mouth. Breathe in again, and this time, as you breathe out, add a roaring sound.
Step 3 Now you’ve got the sound and breath flowing together; take a moment to reflect on what is stressful in your life. Feel where you hold tension in your body. Then on your next outer breath, roar this tension away. Loudly. Really roar!
Step 4 Practice stretching your palms and widening your fingers. Then relax them. Breathe in and tighten shoulders. Outer breath, release shoulders and stretch out palms and fingers wide.
Step 5 Combine steps 2, 3 and 4. Repeat 3 – 5 times, and then pause to notice how you feel. You'll be able to feel how much physical tension you've released, but it's also good to know that you've really boosted your immune system too.
Have fun – life is too short to let stress accumulate and get you down.
