Tye recommends trying the following poses to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. They’re all floor-based and mainly supportive so get into something warm and comfy, grab your bolster (or pillows) and block (or little pile of books), and hop onto your mat. I like to have a few candles going to create a really soothing, relaxing atmosphere. Try to stay in each pose for at least three minutes.

1. Supported supine butterfly

Place the bolster lengthways behind you, sit in butterfly posture with your knees apart and soles of feet together. Place a block under each outer thigh if you need support in your hips.
Lie on the bolster and spread the arms out wide with the back of your hands on the floor.
Focus on your diaphragmatic breathing, with slow long breaths in and out. Try to exhale two counts, linger, then inhale to help the body relax.

2. Supported dragonfly pose

Sit with legs apart in straddle.
Take one, two or three bolsters in front of your crotch, lift high in the torso and fold yourself over the props.
Turn your head to one side, then turn the other halfway through the hold, or place forehead on the bolster.
Focus on your breath, in particular the exhalation.

3. Child pose C

Come to hands and knees, separate the knees wide and toes together (if your knees are sensitive, place a folded blanket underneath them).
Sink the hips back to your heels (if this feels challenging or you need more support try placing a bolster or rolled blanket between your calf muscles and hamstrings).
Rest your forehead on the earth.
Place your arms beside you.

4. Supported deer pose (repeat both sides)

Bend your right knee into half-butterfly with the heel about a foot away from the pelvis, then place your left knee into the arch of the right foot. Bend the left knee until the foot is closer to ninety degrees from the knee towards the bottom. (The legs will look a bit like a pinwheel).
Place the bolster lengthways, with the base of the bolster next to the right hip/upper thigh.
Rotate the torso in the direction of the right knee and walk the torso forward until it rests on a bolster. The arms can relax out to the side like goalposts. Turn your head to the side.

5. Supported corpse pose

Fold a blanket flat and square.
Sit in staff pose (legs out straight, sitting up with back straight – like you’re the letter “L”) place a bolster under the backs of your knees – a hand distance from your tail bone.
Lie down - the blanket should start at the bottom of your ribs.
Place one hand on your belly. Inhale, feeling the stomach rise only to the start of the blanket and then exhale. Repeat stomach breath for five rounds and then invite the full diaphragmatic breath, noticing the back of your ribs and lungs also expand.

Yin yoga helped ease my pandemic anxiety – and it might help yours too