In our busy lives, stress and tension can build up quickly, making it harder to experience joy in the present moment. As a mom working from home and raising my toddler, Ezra, I know how easy it is to feel overwhelmed. But yoga has taught me that there are simple, effective ways to release that stress and invite more joy into our days!
Here are five helpful tips that will leave you feeling more relaxed, open, and joyful. Let’s dive into these techniques that can be done anytime, anywhere, to help you let go of stress and welcome more peace.
1. Lion's Breath (Simhasana) – Roar Your Stress Away!
Lion’s Breath is a super fun and energizing breathing technique that helps release built-up tension in the body and mind. It may look a little silly, but that’s part of the fun—and the joy!
How to do Lion’s Breath
- Sit comfortably on your heels or in a cross-legged position.
- Inhale deeply through your nose.
- Open your mouth wide, stick out your tongue, and exhale forcefully with a “haaaa” sound, like a lion roaring.
- As you exhale, let all the tension in your face, jaw, and neck melt away.
How it helps
This breath work technique releases tension from your face, throat, and chest, where stress often settles. It also stimulates your vagus nerve, which helps calm the nervous system. Plus, Lion’s Breath is a great way to bring some playful energy into your practice, which can lift your mood instantly!
Whenever I’m feeling stressed while juggling work and playtime with Ezra, I take a few moments to do Lion’s Breath, and it immediately helps me reset and feel lighter!
2. Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana) – Stretch Into Joy
Puppy Pose is a wonderful yoga stretch that combines the benefits of Child’s Pose and Downward Dog, providing a gentle release in the spine, shoulders, and chest.
How to do Puppy Pose
- Start on all fours, with your wrists under your shoulders and knees under your hips.
- Walk your hands forward while keeping your hips stacked over your knees.
- Lower your chest and forehead to the mat, feeling a deep stretch in your spine and shoulders.
- Breathe deeply, and hold the pose for at least 5-10 breaths.
How it helps
This pose is incredibly effective for releasing tension in the upper back and shoulders, two areas that often hold stress. By lengthening your spine and opening your chest, you create space for more breath and more joy! After a few minutes in Puppy Pose, you’ll feel your heart opening and the weight lifting from your shoulders—literally.
I often sneak into Puppy Pose while Ezra is napping or playing nearby, and it instantly helps me release the day’s tension. It’s like a mini-yoga vacation!
3. Acupressure Point for Stress Relief – The Soothing Power of the “Spirit Gate”
Acupressure is an ancient healing technique that uses pressure points to release blocked energy and promote relaxation. One of the most effective acupressure points for relieving stress is the **Spirit Gate** point (HT7), located on the inside of your wrist.
How to find and use the Spirit Gate
- Hold your palm facing up.
- Locate the small crease at the base of your wrist, just below your pinky finger.
- Apply gentle pressure with your thumb or index finger and massage the point in small circles for about 1-2 minutes on each wrist.
How it helps
Massaging the Spirit Gate point helps calm your mind, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation. It’s an easy, subtle technique that you can use anywhere—whether you’re in a meeting, at home, or feeling overwhelmed in the middle of the day. I recommend some deep breaths while doing this if you’re able.
This is one of my go-to stress-relief tricks when I feel tension building, especially when balancing work while also taking care of Ezra’s needs!
4. A Quick Meditation for Instant Calm
Meditation is a powerful tool for relieving stress and tension, and the best part is that you can do it anywhere. Even just 3-5 minutes of focused breathing and mindfulness can make a huge difference in how you feel.
Meditation is a fantastic way to reduce stress, and science backs it up! Studies show that meditating regularly lowers cortisol, the hormone that causes stress. It also activates the “rest and digest” system, helping us relax and counter the stress response. Cool fact: MRI scans reveal that meditation actually shrinks the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for fear and stress. By calming the mind and focusing on the breath, meditation clears mental clutter and brings a sense of peace. It lifts your mood, reduces anxiety, and helps you feel more relaxed and joyful each day!
How to do this simple stress-relief meditation
- Find a comfortable seat or stand in a quiet place.
- Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose, feeling your belly rise.
- Exhale slowly through your mouth, feeling any stress or tension leaving your body.
- Continue breathing deeply, and with each exhale, mentally say to yourself, “I release.”
- After a few minutes, open your eyes and notice how much more peaceful and present you feel.
How it helps
This short meditation allows you to step out of the constant “doing” mode and into a state of being. When we pause and focus on our breath, we reset our nervous system, creating space for calm and joy to flow back in.
I often take these mini-meditation breaks during the day, especially when Ezra needs my full attention and I feel my stress rising. It helps me stay grounded and centered, no matter what’s going on around me!
5. Surrender Your Worries to the Divine
Sometimes, the best way to release stress is to surrender it all—to let go of trying to control everything and trust in something greater than ourselves. Whether you call it God, the Universe, or simply the Divine, surrendering your worries brings a deep sense of peace and freedom.
How to surrender your worries
- Sit quietly with your eyes closed, hands resting in your lap or in prayer position.
- Take a deep breath and silently ask for guidance, saying, “I surrender all my worries and stresses to you. Please take this burden from me.”
- As you exhale, visualize your worries being lifted off your shoulders and given to the Divine.
- Allow yourself to feel the lightness and release as you hand over the stress.
How it helps
When we surrender our worries, we release the need to control every detail of life, which can be a major source of stress. Trusting in the Divine helps us realize that we are supported and that things will work out as they’re meant to. This surrender creates space for joy to naturally arise.
The quote “In my defenselessness my safety lies” from A Course in Miracles is a powerful reminder that true peace and security don’t come from constantly trying to control or defend ourselves against life’s challenges. Instead, it teaches us that by letting go of our need to manage or protect every detail, we open ourselves to a deeper sense of safety and calm, one that comes from trust in something greater than ourselves.
When we are defensive, we’re often acting out of fear—fear of failure, fear of judgment, or fear of loss. We build mental walls, trying to protect ourselves from what might go wrong. But this constant need to defend creates tension and stress, preventing us from feeling at ease in the present moment. It’s exhausting to always be on guard, trying to control life’s outcomes.
By embracing defenselessness, we release the need to fight or control. This isn’t about being passive or weak, but about recognizing that our true strength and peace come from trusting the flow of life. When we surrender, we stop resisting and allow ourselves to be carried by a higher power or divine guidance. It’s a process of letting go—of worry, of fear, of the need to control—and trusting that things will unfold exactly as they are meant to.
In the act of surrendering, we step into a state of peace where we no longer see the world as something to battle against. We realize that true safety lies in our inner connection to the Divine, rather than in our efforts to micromanage external circumstances. The quote encourages us to release the burden of control, understanding that by doing so, we allow ourselves to experience life with more openness, trust, and joy.
From a practical perspective, this can mean letting go of overthinking about how things *should* turn out and instead trusting that what is meant for us will happen in its own perfect time. Whether it’s a stressful situation at work or the overwhelming task of balancing family life, when we practice defenselessness, we create space for peace and clarity to enter.
Personally, as a mom balancing a busy life, I often feel the urge to control everything—to keep work, home life, and my son Ezra’s day running smoothly. But when I find myself feeling overwhelmed, I remember this teaching: letting go doesn’t mean things will fall apart; it means trusting that I don’t have to carry everything on my own. In that space of surrender, I often find solutions, moments of peace, and the joyful present moment that I was missing while trying to defend against stress.
This shift in mindset opens the door to true freedom and joy because it invites us to live from a place of trust, not fear.
Go with the flow.
As a busy mom, there are times when I feel overwhelmed by all the responsibilities on my plate. When that happens, I take a moment to surrender it all—to trust that I’m being guided and supported. This shift brings a sense of peace and allows me to fully enjoy my time with Ezra and my work.
Release Stress, Invite Joy
By using these five tips—Lion’s Breath, Puppy Pose, acupressure, meditation, and surrendering to the Divine—you can release stress and tension, creating space for more joy in your life. These techniques have helped me find more calm and happiness, even during the busiest days. Remember, stress doesn’t have to control your life; you have the tools to let it go!
If you’re ready to dive deeper into releasing stress and tension, check out my YouTube video, where I guide you through some of these techniques and more. Let’s welcome more joy into our lives together!
I hope this blog post inspires you to take small but powerful steps toward relieving stress and finding more joy. You’ve got this! Keep shining! ✨
Feeling like you want more?
Begin each day with intention, peace, and joy through my exclusive ‘Celestial Start: Daily Joy & Centering.’ As a Patreon member of mine – even the FREE members — you’ll receive daily videos featuring gentle stretches, calming breath work, short meditations, and powerful affirmations to align your energy. These sessions are designed to help you ground yourself, set a positive tone, and move through the day with clarity and balance. Together, we’ll create a joyful start to every morning, infusing your life with purpose and light!
See you there. Namaste 😊
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