PART – I
Yoga helps one maintain a fit body as well as a beautiful look. From sparkling eyes to good hair to a glowing skin, yoga benefits the inner health as well as the outward appearance of a person. This new series of articles focuses on cosmetic beauty, which includes removal of dark circles and glowing of skin.
To start with, let’s work on inverted postures, which are the simplest and easiest way to increase blood circulation to the head region
Caution:
Those suffering from sciatica or slipped disc should avoid these.
Those with cervical spondylitis, high blood pressure and heart problems should avoid Exercise 3 and women should avoid the same while menstruating.
Exercise 1
1.Sit with your back straight and legs stretched out
2.Inhale and raise your arms upwards
3.Exhale and stretch forward
4.Hold your ankles or the big toe, pull your body down and rest your forehead on the knees, as shown
5.Hold the position for 10-30 seconds, breathing normally.
Exercise 2
1.Sit with your back straight and legs stretched out
2.Bend one leg and place it in away that that the heel touches the groin area
3.Inhale and raise your arms up
4.Exhale, bend forward to hold the ankle or foot and bring your forehead down to touch the knee and hold the position for 10-30 seconds.
5.Repeat with the other leg.
Exercise 3
1.Lie flat on your back with your arms by your side.
2.Slowly raise both your legs at a 90-degree angle to your body
3.Lift your hips and back off the floor, lower your legs towards your head and support your hips with your hands
4.Slowly lower your hands and bring your legs to 90-degree angle, again.
5.Support the whole body from shoulders so that your body and legs are in a straight line.
6.Keep your chin pressed against your chest and hold the position for 30-60 seconds, breathing normally
7.Gradually lower your back and legs without straining or jerking it.
Exercise 4
1.Sit with your legs stretched out and back straight
2.Bend one leg, place the ankle on the opposite thigh, close to your groin. Bend the other leg and place the ankle on the thigh of bent leg, close to the groin
3.Lean back on elbows and slowly lower your head
4.Bend your elbows behind your head, place both palms on the floor with fingers pointing towards your feet. Put your weight on the palms, raise your head and shoulders to rest on the crown of your head.
5.Hold your toes with your fingers and stay in this position for 10-30 seconds
6.Release toes, press down on elbows and raise your head and shoulders.
7.Prop yourself up on the elbows, then straighten them one at a time. Come back to the starting position.
PART – II
Mudras or gestures are subtle ways with which we can attack the same problems of dark circles and skin problems and yet achieve our results. They require a meditative attitude and focus on the face for maximum effectiveness.
Caution: Those with backache or severe arthritis of the knee joints should not do these. Those suffering from anal fistula should avoid Exercise 3.
Exercise 1
1. Sit with your legs stretched out and your back straight
2. Bend one leg, place your ankle on the opposite thigh, close to the groin. Bend the other leg and place the ankle on the thigh of the bent leg, close to groin
3. Take both hands behind your back and use one hand to hold the other wrist
4. Close your eyes, relax your body and inhale
5. Exhale as you bend forward, resting your forehead on the floor
6. Hold the position for 10-30 seconds, breathing normally
7. Inhale as you raise your body back to starting position.
Exercise 2
1. Sit back on your heels with knees placed together, toes overlapping and your back straight
2. Inhale, slowly raising both your arms above your head
3. Exhale and slowly bend forward with your arms straight and in line with your ears. Rest your forehead on the floor and place your palms together
4. Hold the position for 30 seconds. Relax your body and breathe normally
5. Inhale, raising your arms and upper body and slide your arms back to the starting position.
Exercise 3
1. Repeat steps one and two of Exercise 1
2. Close your eyes and relax your body
3. Inhale slowly and simultaneously contract the anal muscles as tightly as possible, but without straining them
4. Hold the position for a few seconds
5. Exhale a bit and simultaneously release the muscles slowly
6. Repeat two to three times.
PART – III
Headstands, though difficult, can bring about a total change in the face as they increase the blood circulation like no other asanas. Practice the following with caution and you will notice results in no time.
Caution:
Those with high blood pressure should not do these exercises
These exercises should not be practiced alone until they have been mastered. Have someone stand behind you until you learn to maintain your balance
Avoid these asanas during menstruation.
EXERCISE 1
STEP 1:
1. Sit back on your heels, interlock your hands and place them in front of you on the floor
2. Keep your elbows close to your knees
3. Rest the crown of your head in the hollow of your palms.
STEP 2:
Curl the toes in, shift the weight and push your body forward so that the crown of the head is in the hollow of your palms while the top of the forehead rests on the floor
STEP 3:
Raise your hips by straightening your legs and move both the feet towards your head until the torso is vertical.
STEP 4:
Shift your weight onto the elbows and the head, lift both feet off the ground and keep the knees bent.
STEP 5:
1. When you maintain your balance, slowly extend both the legs straight into the air
2. Hold the position for 10-30 seconds, breathing normally.
STEP 6:
Bend your knees and lower your legs and feet to the ground. Sit back on your heels and resume the starting position.
EXERCISE 2
1. Repeat steps 1-5 of Exercise 1
2. Slowly spread your legs sideways
3. Breathe normally and hold the position for 10-30 seconds
4. Bring both your legs together and follow Step 6.