7 Yoga poses for Introverts to recharge

​While Christmas time is often a time of cheer for many, it can be overwhelming and chaotic to others. This is truly one of my favorite times of the year; my tree is up, my house is decorated, and I even managed to squeak in a day with my family to bake some cookies.

But I wouldn’t be able to do all of this, at least not with my sanity intact, if it weren’t for yoga. As an unabashed introvert, I know that time spent by myself, surrounded by the quiet, is just as important to me as time spent with family and friends surrounded by the jubilation of the season.

That being said, before I describe how I use yoga to help me reenergize myself from the chaos in my life, particularly at this magical time of year, let me delve a bit deeper into what it is and isn’t like to be an introvert.

There are a lot of misconceptions and presumptions about us out there, and while I would never presume to know how another person feels, in my own experience, being an introvert doesn’t mean that we are reclusive and don’t like to socialize with other people.

Although it may take some time for us to feel comfortable in a social situation, and we often prefer smaller groups of familiar faces over large groups of unknown faces, we do like to get together with friends and family and are even up to meeting new and interesting folks.

But, once we have had our visit, we need some time and a place with minimal interaction to restore ourselves, or in yoga talk, our prana. If you are savvy to this yoga lingo, you will recall that prana refers to our life force, and this life force within us is unique to each and every one of us.

During this particular time of year, when we are faced with holiday parties, shopping for gifts in crowded malls, and are just feeling overwhelmed by our Christmas to-do lists, our prana can become unbalanced and depleted. We need to realign the energy that runs through our bodies, or as I like to call it, recharge our batteries.

7 Yoga Poses to Help You Recharge

While we all have our favorite yoga poses, there are some that we crave more than others depending on what needs we want to fulfill within. Some are good for giving us strength and confidence, while others are good for bringing us peace and a sense of calm.

For recharging my battery, I have a few poses in particular that I always make sure are in my yoga arrangement. If I don’t find that I have the time for a longer session, then I know that these few poses will do the trick, even if I can only manage to fit in 10 minutes for my sequence.
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*Keep in mind that some of these poses will require you to add a transitional pose in between, such as Table, Downward Dog, Standing Forward Bend, or any other preferred in-between yoga pose.
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1- Cat/Cow Sequence

Often, although we may not realize it, being around other people and being expected to carry on a conversation, to hold a smile throughout, generally, just be engaged in the interaction with another, can cause tension in our bodies, particularly our backs, necks, and shoulders. It is for that reason that a cat/cow yoga pose sequence is one of my favorites. This is also especially great if you have been sitting for a long period of time, maybe on an uncomfortable wooden chair around the dinner table, or maybe you have been walking through a mall lugging bags of Christmas goodies. Spend a few moments breathing in and out through cat and cow and your back will be right as rain once again.

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2- Tree Pose

Feeling a little out of sorts or maybe even unbalanced? I love this yoga pose as it truly lives up to its name; I imagine standing quietly, in solitude, as a tree in a forest. I love how in this asana, as much as it is important to balance your body, it is equally important to balance your mind; to focus on what you are doing and yet also find peace without effort. Once I feel confident in my balance, I just let my thoughts go, no reimagining conversations, no thinking of my to-do list, I just am, much like the solitary tree. Imagery is a great way to connect with your yoga poses, and imagining myself as a tree really helps to ground me, to dig in my roots, so to speak.

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3- King Dancer Pose

And while we’re on the idea of imagery and balance, King Dancer is another great asana that gives me that realignment and revitalization that I am looking for. It requires me to be really focused at first, then still; next, I soften my gaze and everything falls into place. The beauty of this yoga pose allows for me to extend my upper torso, to strengthen my legs and feel the balance realign within me. I try and find the equilibrium between effort and relaxation, and when I do, everything just clicks back into place.

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4- Warrior II Pose

This yoga pose practically screams strength, which is something we all need now and again, especially if we feel as though we are drained after an afternoon with family, no matter how much we love them. This is the pose that gives me the confidence and power to reach beyond my comfort zone; to focus on myself; it provides me the endurance I need to keep going.

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5- Ragdoll to Mountain Pose

These are my let-it-all-go, to-hell-with-it, yoga poses. For the first pose, I take deep breaths; I let my arms pull my chest down and weigh heavy as if letting all the stress leave my body at the same time. I rock back and forth in an almost rhythmic trance until I feel the negative energy exit from me. Once I feel the stress has left my body, I pull myself back up with my arms outstretched and I draw in the positive energy finishing in Mountain Pose. Here, I stand still for a few moments; I feel accomplished and strong like a mountain. Then, I bring my arms to the center of my body and remain stable with calming, regular breaths.

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6- Easy Pose or Fire Log Pose

Any seated, crossed-legged pose will do, and I vary it up depending on how I am feeling. If I want to stretch my hips out, I often will sit in Fire Log Pose and relax my upper body over my lower half before switching the position of my legs to the other side. After I have completed Fire Log, I then will move into Easy Pose and let the day wash through me. If I am able to practice in the morning, this moment of stillness is a great way to set myself up for the day. I will often begin by going over all that I need to accomplish and then I let my thoughts go to a place of stillness. If, however, my practice takes place at the end of the day, I allow myself some time to think over what has happened, to reflect on it all, and then I move on to a quiet mind. I steady my breathing and sit in a place of stillness and peace.

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7- Savasana

Is it any surprise that this pose is on my list? One of the most rejuvenating yoga poses out there, this asana is the cream of the crop. Not only does it reenergize me, if you have ever heard of Yoga Nidra you will understand where I am coming from; Savasana is practically halfway there.

BONUS! Yoga Nidra, also known as yogic sleep, is a state of consciousness where you are almost awake, yet almost asleep. Many of you have probably experienced this state at the end of a yoga class when you nearly drift off because you are so relaxed and you almost forget where you are. Chances are, that if it wasn’t for your instructor telling you to get up, you would probably just stay where you are. Studies have shown that practicing Yoga Nidra can be quite effective in the same way that sleep rejuvenates your body. So, it’s no wonder that Savasana makes us feel so good and why it is important that we always end our sequence in it.

Find Your Own Way to Recharge Over the Holidays

It is easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed from the holiday chaos. And for those who follow a similar introverted path, we can sometimes feel depleted from the holidays that little bit more. If you can’t find a way to recharge, to rebalance your prana, then you may find yourself feeling burnt-out and like you’re losing your mind, or worse, your sense of self.
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There are many ways you can revitalize yourself over the holiday season, yoga, although one of my favorites, is just one of them. Take the time to care for your body, mind, and spirit, whether with a good book, a warm bath, or a snuggle on the couch while watching a good movie with some popcorn. Don’t fear the imbalance of energy that can come from the chaos of the holidays, recharge your batteries with the above sequence and get back to enjoying this enchanted time of year.  ​

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Meet the Author: Danielle L'Ami
Danielle is fascinated by the world and people; she writes her passion and loves to connect with others through her writing. She is a perpetual introvert, loves watching hockey with her husband, smothering her two sons with kisses, and uses yoga to help keep herself balanced.