Yoga and Acne
Yoga and Acne
Yoga and Acne
Acne has many causes and triggers and Yoga addresses most of these issues by balancing the nervous system, stimulating the internal organs and lymphatic system to increase detoxification and proper elimination. This is achieved through various postures and breathing techniques. Meditation is often incorporated.
To keep your skin in a healthy condition, yoga teachers recommend you do specific breathing exercises. If your breathing is impaired or shallow because of asthma, smoking, incorrect posture, or lack of exercise, your cells may be starved of oxygen and unable to clear away waste products properly.
Although yoga comes from the Indian tradition, it is interesting to note that in Chinese medicine, the lungs and the skin (as well as the large bowel) are considered part of the same system of breathing and elimination. So to take care of your skin, you should begin from the inside and take care of your lungs.
Stress can also aggravate acne. When the mind is anxious, the body secretes many chemicals and hormones into the bloodstream which inhibit the natural functions of the body. Yoga including movements, breathing and meditation calms this process.
BREATHING TECHNIQUE-
The traditional name for this is Nadi Sodhana or Nadi Shodan Pranayama but is commonly known as "alternate nostril breathing". Doing this brings an awareness of and control over the inflowing and outflowing breath, and helps to develop (in the longer term) a greater awareness of thoughts, feelings and mental states. It is immediately stress-releasing,
Technique: place your Right middle and index fingers on the centre of the forehead, then gently place your ring finger over the Left nostril and hold it closed. Your thumb should be beside the Right nostril but applying no pressure. Now take a deep, slow, even breath in through the Right nostril as you count to four, then hold the breath inside for four counts. Imagine the breath being held where your fingers are touching your forehead. Release the ring finger from the Left nostril and close the Right nostril with the thumb, breathing out for a count of eight. Focus on your lungs being completely emptied. Without breathing, make four counts, then take an in-breath through the Left nostril for a count of four; pause for four and breathe out through the Right nostril for a count of eight. No breath for a count of four and continue for another five rounds.
Summary:
Place Right hand in position. Breathe in Right nostril for four, hold for four, breathe out Left nostril for eight, pause for four. Resume breathing in the Left nostril for four, hold for four, breathe out Right nostril for eight, pause for four. This is one round. Four to six rounds constitutes one session.
Do at least one session per day. Do a session any time you feel stressed during the day. In fact, you can do as many sessions as you like.
YOGA EXERCISE SALUTE TO THE SUN
There are many yoga postures that can assist with skin conditions, but this one is all-encompassing and the best place to start. Three complete rounds of this exercise is needed to benefit but you can do more when you get better at it or on days when you have more time. If you want to use it as a type of aerobic exercise, do thirty rounds of Salute to the Sun focussing on moving each step in time with your breath. It is found in every book, DVD and class on yoga.
The steps are as follows:
In a standing position, bring your hands to your heart in prayer position. Breathe normally and relax.
Inhaling slowly - Raise arms over head and open your chest, even bending back slightly as you look at the ceiling. Keep head in line with arms.
Exhaling slowly bend forward and to the floor, rest palms on either side of your feet, bending knees if necessary).
Inhaling slowly lower yourself into a lunge by taking your right foot back, lower your right knee to the floor and tuck the toes of the right foot under. Hands are still touching the floor, arms straight down.
Exhaling take your left foot back to meet your right foot, drop your head between your arms and push backwards so that your buttocks move toward the ceiling. Imagine your body being two sides of a triangle. Stretch and lengthen through the spine.
Holding the breath bring knees gently to the floor, buttocks still upwards. Slide your upper body forward between your arms, keeping elbows close to your body.
Inhaling continue sliding body forwards until your hips touch the floor, then raise torso up from the waist. Arms are straight, stretch the spine and neck, tilt the head back slightly.
Exhaling bring toes under again, palms flat on the floor, reverse back into the triangle position by pushing buttocks to the ceiling again. Head is down in line with arms.
Inhaling, step your left foot between your hands and bend right knee to the floor, in lunge again. Allow hips to move downwards and head looking slightly up.
10. Exhaling bring right foot to meet your left foot and bend forwards, palms on floor.
11. Inhaling straighten body while taking arms above head, stretch back slightly.
12. Exhaling bring hands in prayer position to heart level.
This is half a round, leading with the right leg. To complete a whole round, repeat this cycle leading with the left leg.
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