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Our lifestyle today — with stressful jobs, late nights and irregular eating — has left marks on our souls, and our faces.
Seemingly indelible lines and wrinkles, dark circles and premature greying of hair have been added to our long list of tribulations.
Artificial remedies only worsen the situation. What we need in this kind of situation is a solution that works internally, helping to restore the equilibrium the body has lost and bring about an outward change. The solution is none other than yoga.
Yoga helps one attain not only a fit body but also good looks — from sparkling eyes and thick hair to glowing skin. Yoga affects the inner health as well as the outward appearance of a human being.
Improves circulation
Asanas (especially the inverted postures), bandhas (neuromuscular locks) and pranayamas (breathing techniques) improve blood circulation and correct the hormonal balance of the body — and this has a visible effect on the face.
In the following five weeks, there will be a series of articles focusing on cosmetic beauty.
If you practise the exercises regularly, they will help you acquire a radiant, glowing skin. This series will address the following issues:
- Dark circles and pimples
- Premature greying of hair and hair fall
- Double chin
- Good skin
- Wrinkles and laugh lines
In today’s article, we have taken up yoga to help get rid of dark circles and pimples.
Inverted postures
Inverted postures help the blood flow to the face, giving the eyes a certain brightness and the face a glowing complexion and a relaxed, pleasant look.
However, it should be kept in mind that those suffering from sciatica or slipped disc should avoid these postures.
Sarvangasana (Shoulder-stand)
- Lie flat on the back, with arms by your side. Slowly raise both legs to a 90-degree angle from the ground.
- Lift hips and back off floor and slowly lower legs towards the head, supporting hips with hands.
- Slowly shift hands lower down the back, towards shoulders, and bring legs to a 90-degree position. Support weight of the whole body from the shoulders. Body and legs should be in a straight line. Keep chin pressed to chest.
- Hold for 30 to 60 seconds, breathing normally.
- Slowly lower the back and legs to ground, making sure there are no strained or jerky movements.
Those with cervical spondylitis, high blood pressure or heart problems should avoid this posture. Also, women should not perform this while they are menstruating.
Matsyasana (Fish pose)
- Get into Padmasana (lotus posture): Sit with legs stretched out and the back straight. Pull one leg inwards and place ankle on opposite thigh, close to groin. Bend the other leg inwards and place ankle on thigh of earlier bent leg, close to groin.
- If unable to get into Padmasana, sit comfortably with feet crossed.
- Lean back on elbows and slowly lower the head and the back to floor.
- Bend elbows behind head, place palms on floor, fingers pointing towards feet. Press down on palms; raise head and shoulders and rest on the crown of head. Bring hands back towards legs and hold toes.
- Hold for 10 to 30 seconds.
- Release toes, press down on elbows and raise head and shoulders, so you are propped up on elbows. Straighten elbows one at a time and come back to starting position.
Sharnagat Mudra
- Sit on your heels, knees together, toes overlapping and the back straight.
- Inhale and slowly raise both arms above head.
- Exhale and slowly bend forward, arms straight and in line with ears. Touch forehead to floor and bring palms together.
- Hold for 30 seconds, with body relaxed and breathing normal.
- Inhale and slowly raise arms and upper body back to starting position.
Bandhas (Neuromuscular locks)
Bandhas, or neuromuscular locks, are like vitamins in the diet. They control the hormone level in the body by applying pressure on the glands. This has an immediate effect on skin texture.
Practise these simple bandhas on a regular basis to get amazing results.
Mula Bandha
- Get into Padmasana (lotus posture): Sit with legs stretched out and the back straight. Pull one leg inwards and place ankle on opposite thigh, close to groin. Bend other leg inwards and place ankle on thigh of earlier bent leg, close to groin. Place hands on knees.
- If unable to get into Padmasana, sit comfortably with feet crossed.
- Exhale, tense genital region and close anal space. Keep abdominal muscles tight.
- Relax and inhale.
- Repeat 3 times only.
Uddiyana Bandha
- Stand with legs apart and slightly bent, feet out. Rest palms on thighs.
- Bend back and exhale forcefully.
- Pull in stomach to create a hollow space.
- Hold as long as comfortably possible.
- Release contraction and breathe in.
- Repeat only 3 times.
Jhalandara Bandha
- Get into Padmasana: Sit with legs stretched out and the back straight. Pull one leg inwards and place ankle on opposite thigh, close to groin. Bend other leg inwards and place ankle on thigh of earlier bent leg, close to groin. Place hands on knees.
- If unable to get into Padmasana, sit comfortably with feet crossed.
- Inhale deeply. Keeping chest high, hold breath and lock chin against chest.
- Hold for as long as comfortably possible.
- Release chin, look up and exhale.
- Repeat only 3 times.
Pregnant women and those with heart problems and high blood pressure should avoid Mula Bandha and Uddiyana Bandha.
Women should avoid both these bandhas during menstruation. Those with cervical spondylosis, vertigo, high blood pressure and heart disease should avoid Jhalandara Bandha.
And now for the last exercise — keep smiling all day long!
— Bharat Thakur is the founder of Bharat Thakur’s Artistic Yoga. For questions on yoga, write to dubai.artisticyoga
@gmail.com. For more information, log on
to www.bharatthakur.com
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