Yoga Poses For Happiness And Relaxation, Including A Video
By Chris Lalor, Certified Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher and Certified Yoga Therapist, and Dr Stuart McGill, Yoga Teacher, Flametree Yoga Darwin
Last updated: 25 October 2026
Which yoga poses are good for happiness and relaxation? Slow, supported poses are a good place to start, such as supported bridge pose (Setu Bandha) and restorative poses, held with long, steady breathing. This post is one teacher’s experience, plus some research on compassion. It is not medical advice. Flametree teaches these poses to beginners in Darwin and online.
In short: you can try them in a beginner half price 10 pack (first class free). The beginner timetable shows the live classes.
Here’s how yoga poses for happiness and relaxation work. You can learn to do them yourself. Check out the science. Then give it a go. I’ve even referred you to my list of yoga poses for vagus nerve stimulation.
In my own case, as a result of doing yoga, I like myself more, and I like other people more!
I now know this happens because of our vagus nerve.
Among other things, this nerve develops more compassion in each of us.
The vagus nerve is a huge nerve that connects your gut to your mind.
As you work with yoga postures, this stimulates your vagus nerve.
Much more about your vagus nerve is in the video below. It consists of the slides I used at a presentation.
When you view the slides, be ready to push the pause button on any page where you want more time to absorb the diagrams or information on each slide.
Compassion drives happiness
There’s now plenty of good science around happiness, compassion, and even yoga.
For example, see a recent book by Dacher Keltner, a world renowned psychologist who’s been listed as one of the 50 visionaries changing the world.
His work, and his reviews of the work of others, show that compassion “is good for your children, your health, and is … vital to your marriage [or relationship].”
He sums up with the words of the Dalai Lama, who said: “If you want to be happy, practise compassion; if you want others to be happy, practise compassion.”
In my own experience of yoga and its affect on my vagus nerve, I agree.
For example, as part of that journey of how I got into yoga, I’ve come to see that my mother was too critical of others. That rubbed off on me.
I found that all the poses that work via the vagus nerve makes me less judgmental of others, less critical of myself, and more tolerant.
In turn, this again is another reason why I know myself to be happier, due to yoga.
You’ll know it when you feel it
If you’ve not tried yoga, give it a shot. If you’re doing some yoga, try doing it daily… via home practise, online classes, or in-studio.
The more yoga you do, the more benefits you’ll get… at physical, mental, and emotional levels.
You’ll also be wiser, and more compassionate.
Dacher Keltner’s work shows compassion to be one of the greatest determinants of the survival of the human race, plus much more.
If you’re especially looking for yoga for relaxation, or rejuvenation, then see more about our easy restorative yoga.
If you’re doing yoga, and have not yet experienced how compassion drives happiness, then it’s time to do more yoga.
You’ll know the truth of what I’m saying when it becomes self-evident to you, via yoga.
In other words, you’ll know it when you feel it. And feeling it is what yoga is about. It’s different from thinking about it, or knowing it rationally.
You’ll get a certainty that flows from experiencing it. That’s when you’ll definitely know its true.
In summary, yoga gives you more compassion, via the vagus nerve. Compassion then gives you better health, happiness, & much more.
If you’re ready to get started, here are all Flametree’s packages, deals, and prices.
Do more yoga poses for happiness and relaxation
Get happy or relaxed, plus strong and fit. Or whatever else you’re after from yoga.
The next half price beginner 10 pack, with your first class free, is one good way to start.
The beginner poses are easy, introductory poses.
There are even special, optional beginner classes like Gentle Yoga, Backcare Yoga, and Easy Restorative Yoga.
You can see all these options in the beginner timetable.
Try Beginner Yoga via a week-to-week pass, online or in-studio, or both, with a 14 day money back guarantee. With this pass, you can start anytime.
The beginner half price 10 pack is the simplest way in, and an excellent way to get started with yoga for happiness and relaxation.
Non-beginner yoga students, who are newcomers or lapsed at Flametree, get 14 days of unlimited non-beginner classes for $39 (online or in-studio, or both).
FREE options for your vagus nerve path to compassion & happiness
In another post, I’ve also given you some pictures of over 20 vagus nerve activating poses. The poses illustrate some of the more advanced options. There’s also many less advanced options than those at this link.
As you may know, most yoga poses have introductory, intermediate and advanced versions. For your purposes, any version of the pose will achieve your objective.
Whatever else you do, try out more of these yoga poses, simple or advanced, for vagus nerve stimulation.
Another option is to check out the FREE pictorial yoga sequences, or video classes, on our free yoga page.
Whether or not you do classes online or in-studio, save the yoga sequence links for doing additional home practise.
If these deals are not exactly what suits you, check out all Flametree Yoga packages.
Questions about yoga poses for happiness
What are the best yoga poses for happiness and relaxation?
Slow, supported poses are a good place to start, such as supported bridge pose (Setu Bandha) and restorative poses, held for a few minutes with long, steady breathing. Beginners use props like bolsters and blankets so the body can relax. A teacher can show you which poses suit you.
How can yoga make you happier?
Many students say they feel calmer and kinder after yoga. Slow breathing and steady poses help the body settle, and a regular practice gives you time each week to slow down. This post shares one teacher’s experience and some research on compassion. It is not a medical treatment.
Do yoga poses stimulate the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve links the gut and the brain, and slow breathing and some calming poses are thought to work with it. The research is still developing, so treat it as a useful idea and not a promise. Try a few poses and notice how you feel.
How long before I feel happier after yoga?
Some people feel calmer after one class. The longer lasting benefits usually come from doing yoga regularly, for example once or twice a week plus a little home practice.
Can beginners do yoga poses for happiness?
Yes. Beginner classes use easy, introductory versions of the poses with props, and you do not need to be flexible. See the beginner timetable for live classes in Darwin and online.
How much does a beginner class cost at Flametree?
The beginner half price 10 pack gives 12 classes for $59.50 online only, or $84.50 for studio and online. Your first class is free. Check the deal page for the current price.
