Yoga Has Benefits For The Inside Of You, Too
Externally, the benefits of yoga are often readily visible: a toned body
, greater flexibility, even a relaxed demeanor.
But did you know that you can find internal benefits with yoga as well? We don't necessarily mean things like peace, relaxation and mental clarity, though a yoga practitioner can no doubt achieve those things as well.
No, we mean actual internal changes such as those affecting the bladder, the digestive system, the intestines, kidney, liver, ovaries, pituitary, prostate and thyroid. Yoga, scientists and experts have discovered, has the ability to affect the function and performance of the internal organs and help alleviate some of the problems that may be connected with them.
The experts say that yoga is possibly the only physical activity that can, with proper execution, massage and stimulate the internal organs and improve their function. Through the various poses and stretching movements, yoga can increase the blood flow to the internal organs, which cleanses and detoxifies. Yoga has been found to reduce sodium in the system, boost the endocrine, gastrointestinal and lymphatic systems, lower the amount of triglycerides and cholesterol in the system and regulate the production of hormones.
In addition, yoga can increase the red blood cell count and the levels of Vitamin C, both of which help to strengthen your immune system.
Regarding specific movements, yoga positions, or asanas, that invert the body help increase the blood flow to the lungs and brain and lets the heart rest a bit from its constant work. Performing inversion poses also has been found to improve sleep because they help to relax the sympathetic systems. With twisting poses or asanas, the move massages the organs, improving and increases the blood circulation within them. And poses that require the student to bend forward can massage the abdominal area, while back-bends massage the kidneys and adrenal glands.
Listed below are a few internal organs of the body and some yoga poses that can help improve their function.
Bladder - The Half Frog Pose: Lie down on the floor on your stomach and press your forearms to the floor while raising your head and upper body. Bend your left leg at the knee and press your heel to your buttock on the same side. While supporting yourself with your right forearm, reach back with your left hand and grab the bottom of your foot. Point your elbow up toward the ceiling and move your hand around to the top of your foot, then move your hand to the top of your foot and curl your fingers over your toes. Next, press your foot toward your buttock. If you're flexible enough, try to push your foot off to the side and attempt to press down to the floor, making sure to keep your knee lined up with your hip. It the position begins to hurt, release some of the pressure. Switch sides and perform the pose, which is also known as the Half Bhekasana, on the other side of your body for anywhere between two minutes and 20 seconds.
Digestive System - Bharadvaha's Twist: Take a seat on the floor and place your legs straight out in front of you. Shift the weight of your body to your left buttock, bend your knees and position your legs on the right side of your body. Both your fee should be on the floor at the side of your left hip and your left ankle should be placed on the arch of your right foot. Take a deep breath and lengthen your torso, then shift your weight to your left buttock, swinging your feet to the right in the same position that you had them on the left. As you exhale, twist your torso to the left while making sure your right buttock remains in touch with the floor as much as possible. Relax your torso and try to lengthen your back. Put your left hand under your right knee and put your right hand on the floor, behind your right buttock. Twist your right shoulder back a bit and press your shoulder blades into your back while continuing to twist your body to the left. With each inhalation, try to twist your midsection a bit further and hold this pose for no longer than 60 seconds. Exhale and return to the original position with your legs straight out in front of you, then repeat for the other side of your body.
Sphinx Pose Intestines: Lie on the floor on your stomach with your legs straight out behind you. Slowly stretch your spine as you contract your tailbone section upwards and then downwards to your feet. Next, rotate the outer part of your thighs toward the floor to continue stretching and lengthening your lower back. Position your elbows under your shoulders and place your forearms on the floor so that they are evenly positioned. Inhale and raise the upper part of your torso up from the floor in a moderate backbend position. You should keep your buttocks firm but not tight and you should attempt to extend your tailbone to your feet to keep the pressure from your lower back. Now slowly raise the lower part of your stomach (the area just above the pubic bone but below the navel) up and in towards your lower back area to create a dome shape. Don't tighten or suck in your stomach while performing this move. Maintain this pose for 30-40 seconds, exhale and relax your stomach muscles while lowering your torso back to the floor. Relax and repeat the pose if you wish.
There are many other poses that benefit these areas of internal areas of the body, as well as poses for other internal areas of the body. Consult with a yoga professional to find out the proper execution of these moves and more, as well as how yoga can help create a better you inside and out.
Yoga Has Benefits For The Inside Of You, Too
By: Linda Adams
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