3 Ways To Use Yoga to Detox Your Body
If you are new to Yoga, you already know the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of practicing it. But what you may not realize is that it is also a great way to detox your body, and this is how:
When doing Yoga, often deep, controlled breathing is used, and this deep breathing helps cleanse the organs by bringing more oxygen to them. There is a popular rumor going around that certain twists can help detoxify, but there is no hard evidence to support this.
Ridding the body of poisons doesn’t have to mean juicers, fasting, or special diets. Besides deep breathing, there are poses in Yoga that you can incorporate to aid in the detoxification process:
1. The Revolved Chair Pose
Health Benefits: Aids the digestive system by stimulating elimination.
Skill level: Beginner
How to do the Revolved Chair Pose: This one involves some twisting, but should be easier than the more advanced asana described below. Even if you’re a beginner, it shouldn’t be much of a problem for you.
The first thing you want to do for this pose is spread your feet shoulder-width for stability, squat as if you’re about to lower yourself into a chair. But don’t lower yourself down. Making sure your knees are parallel, hold that pose, bringing your hands together and pressing together firmly. Then, slowly turn your upper body until your elbow is touching the opposite knee. Arch your back, which will bring your shoulder blades together, and expand your chest.
2. The Shoulder Stand Pose
Health Benefits: Funnels toxins toward the heart, where they can be oxygenated and purged.
Skill level: Beginner
How to do the Shoulder Stand Pose: Start out by lying on your back, then extend your legs straight up into the air, bracing your lower back and hips with your hands. Draw your stomach inward, toward your spine, keeping your head still all the while.
3. The Eagle Headstand Pose
Health Benefits: Stimulates cardiovascular activity, boosts immunity, aids in digestion.
Skill level: Intermediate
How to do the Eagle Headstand Pose: Before trying this, make sure you can do a regular headstand. Perhaps you need practice to remind your muscle memory of how it’s done. Once you do a regular headstand, graduate to the Eagle Headstand, which simply means using your forearms as a triangular brace to support your body while it’s in the air.
Once your legs are in the air and you have stability, press your thighs together, or hook one leg around the other. It does take practice, and isn’t always recommended for beginners, but the benefits are worth the effort.
Almost all asanas can help detox the body, but some are more effective than others. Try out different ones to find which ones work for you, and the ones you like best, because in the end, Yoga shouldn’t be a chore, it should be fun.
