Feeling a little tense? Maybe more than a little?
I get it.
The presidential election results just rolled in and Trump has claimed victory. It’s a lot to process, no matter where you stand politically.
You’ve tried to distract yourself, maybe even tried to avoid the news, but you can’t shake that lingering sense of anxiety. The uncertainty, the tension, it’s all too much.
And perhaps it’s not even the grand political spectacle that’s got your heart racing. It could be the office chatter, the heated discussions at family dinners, or those endless social media debates.
Here’s where yoga comes in.
And no, I’m not talking about some mystical cure-all or a chance to achieve enlightenment. I’m talking about simple practices that can help you stay grounded and bring some calm into your life.
In this article, I’ll share 7 yoga practices that can help you cope with election anxiety. Because sometimes all we need is a little bit of stillness to get through the chaos.
1. Embrace the power of deep breathing
I know, I know, it sounds so basic, right?
But deep breathing is a cornerstone of yoga and it’s one of the simplest ways to reduce stress and anxiety.
Think about it – when you’re caught up in the election frenzy, your breath likely becomes shallow and fast. This can send your body into fight-or-flight mode, increasing feelings of anxiety.
Now imagine reversing that.
By consciously slowing down your breath, you signal to your body that it’s time to relax. It’s like telling your body, “Hey, it’s okay. We got this.”
The best part is that you don’t even need a yoga mat for this.
Just find a comfortable spot, sit down, close your eyes, and take a deep breath in… hold it… and then slowly let it out.
Repeat this for a few minutes and notice the difference.
2. Ground yourself with Mountain Pose
So let’s say you’ve got a handle on the deep breathing thing.
What’s next?
Well, let me introduce you to the Mountain Pose, or Tadasana as it’s known in yoga lingo.
This is a basic standing pose, but don’t let its simplicity fool you – it’s a powerful posture that promotes feelings of stability and calm.
Here’s what happened when I tried it during a particularly stressful election season in my country, Georgia. I was feeling all over the place, my thoughts were running wild and I was struggling to keep my emotions in check.
Sound familiar?
Well, I decided to give the Mountain Pose a go. I stood with my feet hip-width apart, my arms by my sides, my eyes closed. I visualized myself as a mountain – strong, unshaken by the winds of change, rooted firmly in the ground.
As I held this pose, I felt a sense of calm wash over me.
It was as if all the election noise just faded into the background. I opened my eyes feeling more grounded and centered.
3. Find your balance with Tree Pose
Albert Einstein once said:
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
In yoga, the Tree Pose or Vrksasana is all about finding that balance in your life. And let’s face it, balancing on one foot is not always easy, especially when your mind is preoccupied with election results.
Let me tell you, when I first tried the Tree Pose during a heated election period in Georgia, it was not pretty. My mind was buzzing with election updates and my body was just not having it. I kept falling over and over again.
Then, I remembered Einstein’s quote and realized that perhaps my lack of balance was reflective of my internal turmoil. I decided to clear my mind and focus solely on the pose.
As I balanced on one foot, with the other resting on my inner thigh and my hands in prayer position, I felt a sense of stillness.
My mind wasn’t racing anymore, it was focused on maintaining my balance.
The Tree Pose taught me that sometimes to find our balance amidst chaos, we need to tune out the noise and focus on the task at hand.
4. Release tension with Child’s Pose
Child’s Pose, or Balasana, is like a mini vacation for your body and mind. It’s a resting pose that is often used in yoga sequences to cool down and relax.
Now, here’s the thing:
Studies have shown that stress and tension often accumulate in our back, shoulders, and neck. And guess what?
The Child’s Pose is known for releasing tension in these very areas.
During the October election, I was glued to my screen, hunched over my laptop for hours, scrolling through updates.
Result?
A stiff neck and aching shoulders.
That’s when I remembered the Child’s Pose. I got down on my yoga mat, sat back on my heels, bent forward with my forehead touching the mat and my arms stretched out in front of me.
As I settled into the pose, I could feel the tension melting away from my back and shoulders. My breath slowed down, my mind cleared up.
It felt like a reset button for my body.
5. Cultivate positivity with Sun Salutations
After deep breathing, grounding, balancing, and releasing tension, what’s next? How about we bring some positivity into our lives?
Well, this sequence of yoga poses is typically practiced in the morning to greet the new day. It’s like a moving meditation that brings a sense of gratitude and positivity.
During the post-election period last time, I found myself in a sea of negativity. It was hard to escape the constant barrage of harsh words and bitter debates.
I needed something to shift my focus from the negativity around me.
That’s when I decided to start my day with Sun Salutations.
The rhythmic flow of the poses along with my breath, the stretching, the bending, the moving – it all helped me start my day on a positive note.
Each morning, as I moved through the Sun Salutations, I found myself focusing on the positive aspects of my life. It was a much-needed reminder that despite all the chaos and uncertainty around me, there was still so much to be grateful for.
6. Embrace acceptance with Savasana
So we’ve breathed deeply, grounded ourselves, found balance, released tension and cultivated positivity.
What’s the final step in managing our election anxiety?
It’s acceptance.
And in yoga, the practice of Savasana or Corpse Pose is all about acceptance.
Savasana is usually performed at the end of a yoga session. You simply lie down on your back with your arms and legs relaxed, eyes closed, and breathe naturally.
It’s a pose of total relaxation and surrender.
Now, in the middle of the aftermath of the election, I’m struggling with acceptance. Accepting the results, accepting the reactions of people around me… it’s tough.
One day while lying in Savasana after my yoga practice, it hit me – acceptance doesn’t mean agreement or approval. It simply means acknowledging what is, without resistance or judgment.
As I lay there, feeling my body sink into the mat, my mind quietened and I found myself accepting the election results, not necessarily agreeing with them but accepting them as a reality.
7. Practice mindfulness with meditation
We’ve navigated through deep breathing, grounding, balancing, releasing the tension, cultivating positivity, and embracing acceptance. What could possibly be next?
I’d say it’s about bringing it all together with mindfulness.
And there’s no better way to practice mindfulness than through meditation.
Meditation, just like yoga, is a powerful tool for managing anxiety. It’s about being present, being aware of your thoughts and feelings without getting swept away by them.
I remember the days following the election results. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I was anxious, upset, confused… you name it.
I decided to sit down for a few minutes each day, just to observe my thoughts without judgment. In the beginning, it was tough. My mind would wander off every few seconds.
But with time, I found it easier to stay present.
During these moments of quiet introspection, I realized that most of my anxiety stemmed from my fear of the unknown. By acknowledging this fear, I was able to let go of it.
Wrapping it up
If you’ve been nodding along while reading this, there’s a good chance you’re grappling with some degree of election anxiety. And that’s perfectly okay.
The beauty of yoga is that it’s not just a physical practice, but a mental and spiritual one too. It teaches us to breathe through discomfort, to find balance amidst chaos, and to be present even when the future seems uncertain.
But here’s the crucial part – this isn’t about doing yoga perfectly or mastering every pose. It’s about showing up for yourself and taking a few moments each day to connect with your body and mind.
Start slow, maybe with a few deep breaths each morning or a simple Mountain Pose in the middle of a stressful day.
The goal isn’t to become a yogi overnight but to gradually incorporate these practices into your everyday life.
And remember, this isn’t just about the election. These practices can help you deal with any stressful situation life throws your way
