Today we celebrate Blue Monday, the saddest day of the year. The story of this anniversary began in 2005 when an English psychologist through a series of calculations including the reduction of daylight hours identified the third Monday in January as the depressing day of the whole year. In reality, the anniversary has nothing scientific because it was born on the occasion of a publicity stunt by a travel agency. What is certain is that Monday is generally a difficult day of the week to deal with. To do this with the right gear, yoga can also help. "Through movement and breathing it facilitates calm and relaxation, acting in a positive way on mood. In fact, it promotes the production of endorphins, neurotransmitters that reduce stress hormones such as cortisol ", says Francesca Miccoli, certified Hatha yoga teacher, who here suggests 5 yoga positions to regain a good mood and face Blue Monday (and not only) with the right gear.

The position of the mountain (Tadasana)

Stand upright with your feet together, your arms close to your body and your palms facing forward. Lift the tips of your toes off the floor and then place them on the ground, taking care to distribute the weight of the body over the entire sole. Pushing the belly in, stretch upwards and let the shoulder blades slide downwards. This asana is useful for finding harmony and balance.

The position of the triangle (Utthita Trikonasana)

Stand with your legs spread just over shoulder width apart. Bring your arms parallel to the floor while keeping your palms down. The legs are straight and the heels aligned. Turn your right foot and the toe of your left foot to the right. As you exhale, lower your torso sideways to the right and touch the corresponding leg with your right hand. Lift your left arm upwards and rotate your head towards the corresponding hand. Then inspiring, return to the starting position and repeat everything on the other side. This asana is great for opening up posture and counteracting tension.

The position of the child (Balasana)

Kneeling with your legs together, rest your buttocks on your heels and spread your legs so that the space between the knees is equal to the width of the hips. As you exhale, bend your torso forward. Rest your head on the ground and your arms at your sides. The palms of the hands are facing upwards. Stay in this position for a few minutes, focusing on the breath. This asana is perfect for counteracting stress and fatigue that can promote nervousness and irritability.

The location of the bridge (Setu Bandhasana)

Lie on the ground on your stomach, with your arms along your body and your palms resting on the floor. The knees are bent and the feet parallel and hip-width apart. Pressing your feet to the ground and exhaling, lift your buttocks and pelvis off the floor and lift your back off the ground trying to form an arch that goes from the shoulders to the knees. Stay in this position for 30 seconds and then slowly return to the starting position. This asana is great for relaxing and relaxing your body and mind.

The inverted position on the wall (Viparita Karani)

Position yourself on the ground face up with your arms extended along your body, palms facing upwards and buttocks resting against a wall. Raise your legs and lean them against the wall. Stay in this position for 5 minutes, focusing on the breath. This asana relaxes and helps to get rid of thoughts and anxieties. It gives immediate relief and a feeling of well-being.