February is the season of love, but it is also a time when school kids’ heads get buried in their books! That’s because it will officially be the exam season. It’s that time of the year when not only students get stressed out, but also their parents. If you or your child is affected by stress during exams, try some yoga poses. Your child can do them either individually or you can join in too. So, stay calm and focused by doing yoga that can help to tackle exam stress.

We all know that the negative impact of stress on your physical and mental health is immense (reasons why taking stress harms skin). So, to know more about yoga for exam stress, HealthShots reached out to Dr Mickey Mehta, a global leading holistic health guru and corporate life coach.

He says that stress during exams is a conventional and basic response of the human mind. It is an inseparable part of a student’s life, feeding on their peace of mind and disrupting their emotional equilibrium. During exam time, students constantly reel under pressure. That pressure is not really our friend!

According to the expert, yoga is the mother principle of absolute equilibrium (benefits of yoga). It is about the confluence of energies. When these confluence of energies happen, the energies get balanced. Yoga opens your body and mind, and as you flow better, you come back into rhythm of breath and movement.

Here are yoga poses to beat exam stress –

1. Tadasana

This is like reaching out to the sky, up on your toes, aligning your spine, and stretching your fingertips high up. Dr Mehta says that it gives the feeling of alleviation and expansion of awareness. It gives proper control over the body and mind movements and coordination.

2. Bhujangasana

When you move the spine like a cobra, it activates the left and right brain, and with simultaneous nostril breathing, it helps to focus, be more attentive and alert.

3. Parvatasana

You need to bend forward, and walk with your hands in front until your heels are on the ground. This is a mountain position that makes your determination strong like a mountain.

4. Pavanamuktasana

You have to touch your head to your knees while breathing out. Then the core gets sucked in tight and the buttocks tighten. This leads to strong inner core strength and becoming one with yourself.

5. Naukasana

Focus on the center of your core, holding the posture tight, and focusing on the toes of your feet with both eyes. This helps to make you stable and steady. It strengthens your core and confidence.

All these yoga asanas not just help in reducing stress, but also improve memory, focus, attention, and concentration. They improve your self-awareness as well, says the expert.

Asanas with regulated breathing exercises like Nadi Shodhana and Bhramari help you to empty the mind of its clutter. They make you feel refreshed and revitalised with positive thoughts.

As you gear up for some sleepless nights and stressful days during the exam season, don’t forget to do some yoga. Afterall, yoga is a stress-buster!