Yoga for stress relief that starts with your breath, not your flexibility

When a day has been too much, the last thing most people want is a demanding workout. The practices in this section go the other way. They're slow, mostly on the floor, and built around one simple idea: breathing out a little longer than you breathe in.

You'll find short breathing practices, supported resting poses like child's pose and legs up the wall, and routines of ten minutes or less that work just as well on a bed as on a mat. Every guide includes a simpler option and a "Stop if" note.

We're also clear about the limits. Yoga may help some people feel calmer, but it isn't a treatment for anxiety, depression or any other health condition, and it can't fix a problem that needs a phone call, a form or a professional. If stress is constant, or you ever feel unsafe, please reach out to a doctor, counsellor or local emergency service. Yoga can sit alongside that help, never in place of it.