Want glowing, younger-looking skin? Ditch those expensive skin treatments and brighten up with yoga. Priya Chaphekar speaks to top yoginis and puts together a natural,cost-effective regimen to enhance your beauty.
Yoga is undoubtedly one of the most effective practices one could ever do. There’s nothing more refreshing than waking up before sunrise, cleansing your bowels with warm lime water and showing up on the mat. The daily drill of asanas followed by breathing techniques gives you peace, increases flexibility and dissolves pranic blockages. But from that, yoga gifts us something that we all take for granted–a luminosity that comes from within and radiates outwards.
“Ageing is one of the reasons for the skin to lose its elasticity. Add to that an unhealthy lifestyle, dehydration, lack of sleep, mental or emotional stress, digestive problems and hormonal changes. Investing a few minutes on your mat and practising different combinations of asana, mudra and pranayama can help you get the natural glow without splurging a bomb on chemical-based cosmetic products or treatments,” highlights Yoga Instructor Manju Prithiani.
Strike a pose
“Any asana that is basically an inversion (where the blood flow is directed to the head) is extremely great for the skin. Make sure that you practice these asanas carefully, mindfully and by observing your breath to ensure that the blood circulation in these areas does not feel rushed or forced,” advises Yoga and Acro Yoga Practitioner Apoorva Jayarajan. It’s a good idea to choose yoga postures that promote blood circulation to the upper part of the body–the head and face area. These include Bhujangasana (cobra pose), Halasana (plough pose), Sarvangasana (shoulder stand), Matsyasana (fish pose), Balasana (child’s pose) and Trikonasana (triangle pose). These postures not only help to get rid of dullness as blood rushes to your head, but also increase oxygenation by opening up the chest.
“Any heart opening posture or inversion works well for the skin. A few examples are Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward-facing dog), Shirshasana (headstand) and Ushtrasana (camel pose). Heart openers increase the lung capacity and have a positive impact on the skin’s texture,” says Rupal Sidhpura Faria, Founder and Owner, Rupal's Yogasthenics Workouts.
Haryana-based Yogini Sakshi Gupta suggests flushing out the toxins and cleansing the digestive system with gentle inversions for beginners, supine twists, forward folds and back bends for a glowing skin.
Fast-paced sun salutations also help to promote natural detoxification of the skin.
Clean and clear
Shuddhikriyas or cleansing practices like Jalaneti not only cleanse the passages in the body but also impart a glow to the face. “The practice of neti includes three steps–Jalaneti, Randradhauti and Kapalbhati. In Jalaneti, the nasal passage is washed in a unique manner using lukewarm saline water. After this kriya, the sinuses are gently massaged with the fingers. This practice, known as Randradhauti, helps in removing any blockage in our sinuses. Kapalbhati or vigorous exhalation helps to get rid of any accumulated water in the nasal passage. The combination of these kriyas cleanses the nasal passages and stimulates the muscles of the face,” shares Sakshi.
Mindful mudras
The term Mudra is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Muda’ meaning ‘gesture’ or ‘attitude’. Mudras are a combination of subtle physical movements which alter mood, attitude and perception, and which deepen awareness and concentration. Recommended by the ancient Vedas, mudras are known to balance the five elements in the body and increase the oxygen-rich blood flow to the skin. When adopted during pranayama, a mudra acts like a lock to guide energy flows and reflexes to the brain.
Rupal suggests Prithvi mudra and Varuna mudra for glowing skin. “Prithvi mudra involves uniting the tip of the ring finger and the thumb, bringing together the elements of fire and earth. This mudra improves blood circulation, increases tolerance, improves concentration, strengthens weak and lean bones and helps to manage weight and reduces fatigue, thereby giving a natural glow to the skin.The Varuna mudra is performed by joining the tips of the thumb and little finger. It helps to balance the water content in the body. It promotes the flow of body fluids, thus, keeping the skin moisturised and hydrated at all times,” points Rupal.
Breathe in, breathe out
Generally defined as ‘breath control’, Pranayama utilises the breath to influence the flow of prana or vital energy in the nadis energy channels. Pranayama essentially means disciplining the breath to discipline the mind. Women with oily skin often suffer from acne and pimples during summers. While Pranayamas like Sheetali and Sheetkari render a soothing and cooling effect on the skin, Nadi Shodhan or alternate nostril breathing helps to empty the stomach and remove toxins from the body leaving the skin fresh and sparkling. Kapalabhati, also known as the skull shining breathing technique, helps to acquire a shine on the face.
“Surya Bhedan (right nostril breathing) and Chandra Bhedan (left nostril breathing) are incredibly effective in balancing our breath and our Ida and Pingalanadis. This in turn helps in balancing the Tridoshas in our body (Kapha, Pitta and Vata). A lot of skin problems are a direct result of imbalances in our doshas (subtle energies in our body). Balancing the doshas can effectively cure many skin problems and bring a subtle glow to the skin,” insists Sakshi.
