We know how it is: The second you’ve got a ring on your finger, you’re figuring out how you can get your ideal wedding day-body in time to stroll down the aisle in that beautiful dress of your dreams. You’ve probably been frantically scanning the yellow pages for gyms and trainers. Stop. Take a deep breath. Amsale Woman has a better solution: Instead of hiring a personal trainer, try yoga poses or a session with a yogi.

Consider this: As you prepare for the most special day of your life, you’ll most likely be facing some of the most stressful days of your life. That’s why yoga is the perfect exercise for brides—you’ll combat stress while simultaneously toning and strengthening your body.

Beyond the obvious stress of making the guest list and deciding between tulips and roses, the bride also faces more deep-rooted issues dealing with power and loyalty, says Roberta Temes, Ph.D, a Brooklyn, NY-based psychotherapist who specializes in helping couples deal with the issues that go with planning their wedding. “First decide what areas are worth going to war over, and ask yourself what will matter a year from now,” Dr. Temes recommends. During this time, taking time out for yourself will be almost impossible, she says. So how will you find time to just say, “Om”?

“Yoga is the best portable stress management tool,” says Linda Gajevski of the American Yoga Association. Try this simple, tension-be-gone move from the AYA (www.americanyogaassociation.org) —whenever you have a minute, at your computer, in the middle of making save-the-dates, or in the tailor’s dressing room:

Seated Spine Twist (relieves tension in back, neck, and stomach): Sit straight with your feet flat on the floor and your right hand on the outside of your left leg. Place your left hand on the chair back or seat. Breathe in deeply through your nose; breathe out as you twist left gently. Hold a moment; release and switch sides.

Ahhh, feeling less stressed already? Now maybe you should let your worked-up mother or mother-in-law-to-be give it a try!

Wedding Stress Advice Coming Soon:

• Dealing with Separation Issues
• The Ultimate Power Struggle: Parents versus Spouse-to-be
• Understanding Your In-Laws-to-be
• Making Joint Decisions
• First Year of Marriage: What to Expect

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