As we grow old, the body tends to lose its elasticity and fat reserves. Thus, the skin starts developing wrinkles, as it does not have anything to hold on to. The internal organs also develop certain issues, but the first signs of aging are visible externally. However, there is a way out. You can do yoga to delay aging. It can be a preventative modality. On the other hand, if aging has already set in, you can try out toning asanas to manage the same. In case you want to know about the yogic remedies in more detail, you should join a Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh.
You will be able to learn about various yoga asanas and other kriyas, to control aging, or at least manage it. For now, we will discuss some easy poses and kriyas, which you can do on your own.
Yoga Asanas For Ageless Health and Wellness
Practicing yoga will help you to get healthy faster and also manage the same. It has an impact on your physical health and also your mental health. Yoga also boosts immunity and blood circulation, which eventually helps in the quick removal of body toxins. You will find many 80-year-olds also practicing yoga and they can give you stiff competition in terms of looks.
So, without delaying any further, let us get down to the basics.
Halasana
Also called the Plough pose, it is an excellent asana, in which the blood supply to your head increases. It is one of the inversion asanas, which can make your face glow as well. If you practice this asana at least twice a day, it will start to show the effects.
- You just have to lie down on your back, with your hands beside you.
- Slowly, lift the legs together, while supporting your torso on the mat, engaging your core muscles. The legs will go up and above the head to land on the other side of the head.
- All this while, you can keep the hands straight with palms down. The fingers will point toward the legs. You can also choose to grasp one hand with the other. Or interlock the fingers behind your back.
- Your face must face the upturned thighs.
- You can hold the pose for 5-10 breaths, as it is the gold standard in yoga practice.
- When you are ready to release yourself from the pose, slowly lift the legs from the floor and place them back in their original position.
Sarvangasana
This is another pose that helps with anti-aging. Your body is inverted completely in this pose, which adds to the benefits. Also called the shoulder stand, it helps in promoting blood supply towards the head and face. This infusion of oxygenated blood directly from the heart, improves the skin texture. Brain-related illnesses like Dementia also get controlled. You can practice this asana thrice a day, for the best results. Those with pimple problems will also find them vanishing in no time. Here is the process.
- You have to start in the supine pose, with the hands by your side.
- Slowly, start lifting the legs off the floor, and thereafter lift the pelvis, with support from your hands.
- Then you have to move the hands very slowly, to support the back muscles.
- You have to ensure to focus on your feet, while doing the asana.
- In the final pose, you will be supporting the weight of the entire body on your shoulders, while the soles of the legs face upward.
- Hold the position for as long as you can, so that your head and facial region get a steady influx of blood.
- This will lead to glowing skin.
Chakrasana
Also called the wheel pose, this is another beneficial asana for good skin health and flexibility. Till now, we have been concentrating more on skin health and brain health. However, the flexibility of the body also matters. You have to ensure to keep all the joints supple, while you age gracefully. Chakrasana is just perfect for that.
You must ensure to learn it at a good yoga school, by enrolling in a Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh. The right guidance matters a lot, as one wrong move can affect your health badly. Here are a few steps, which can guide you. For perfection, you must connect with a good school of yoga in Rishikesh.
- You must lie down in a supine position on the mat.
- Slowly lift the legs and keep them hip-width apart. Bend them at the knees, while keeping the soles flat on the mat.
- Bring the hands close to the shoulders, with palms down, ensuring that the fingers point towards the legs. Initially, they will be bent.
- Inhale and lift the body with support from the legs and palms. Your toes can just touch the mat at one point.
- Your head remains on the mat for support, but once you have lifted the entire body, the head also goes up.
- You can further lift the waist, to give more stretch to the body.
- You can hold the pose for some time. When you are ready to release, slowly lower the body on the mat. And, take your hands and feet to the original position. You have to exhale while doing the release.
Adho Mukha Svanasana
This is another excellent asana for ageless wellness. From helping you with anti-aging benefits such as wrinkle-free skin and minimal acne, this is a boon for problematic skin. It improves blood circulation to the head as well, thereby promoting hair growth. Additionally, it strengthens the bone, stretches the calf muscles and the hamstrings. Your spine also gets a thorough workout, if you do this asana on a regular basis. Learn more about this effective pose in the Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh. Here is how you can do it.
- You have to start from a tabletop position, on four limbs.
- Slowly, lift the buttocks up facing the ceiling.
- Thereafter, you must ensure to support your body on the palms and soles.
- Tuck the chin inwards into the chest. Look at the belly. Breathe normally throughout.
- Hold the pose for some time and come back to Dandasana and relax.
Hasta Padasana
This is another head-down position, where the heart is at the level of the knees. This asana impacts the entire body, giving you a good stretch and also improving blood circulation. The spine also gets a thorough workout. This standing forward bend pose helps your skin in the fight against free radicals as well. You will also get relief from backache, due to its spine- stretching qualities. Learn how to do it.
- You have to stand straight in Tadasana.
- Slowly, inhale and raise the hands above the head.
- Thereafter, fold from the hips completely, without rounding the back.
- Hold the soles of both the feet with your hands.
- This is extremely useful in removing free radicals from the blood.
Pranayama For Anti-Aging And Wellness
Surya Bhedana is a great anti-aging Pranayama, which increases heat inside the body. You can heal your body in response to various diseases as a part of the process. Breathing through the right nostril in this Pranayama slows down the aging process, and also replenishes your mental health. You have to inhale through the right nostril and exhale from the left in this practice.
Ujjayi Pranayama is another kind of breathing practice, which helps in supplying more oxygen to the body. The face also gets better blood circulation. Although you inhale and exhale through the nose, you must allow the exhaled air to pass through the throat creating a whisper-like sound.
You can also do Bhramari, to push aging away. It also reduces anger and tension. The buzzing sound on exhalation helps in calming down the nervous system. The body’s healing capacity also increases., pushing away aging.
Final Words
You can join a Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh, at Gurukul Yogashala, to learn all such asanas and breathing techniques, which improve the flow of blood toward the head and face. These can ward off the visible signs of ageing, like fine lines and wrinkles. On the other hand, there are other poses, like the Chakrasana, which serve both externally and internally. Flexibility and mobility of the joints are very important, as with age the joints become dry. You can also go for Ayurveda oil massages to keep all the joints supple. The course as mentioned above also covers these in detail. So, go for it today!