YOGA FOR HEALTHY HAIR
Asanas & Pranayam for good hair. Halasana (Plough pose). Trikonasana (Triangle pose). Pawanmuktasana (Knees to chest pose). Matsyasana (Fish pose).
1. Halasana (Plough pose)
Steps for Pose
Lie down on the floor with your back and place your hands by your side
Palms facing downwards.
Slowly lift your legs keeping it at right angle to the floor.
Continue lifting your legs further as you bend it backwards over your head such that your toes are touching the ground beyond your head.
Once that you have lifted your legs as far as comfortable, now press your chin against your throat.
To retain this posture for long, support your back with your elbows on the ground.
Breathe normally as long as you hold this posture.
Return to your original position and repeat again.
How It Works
Halasana is one of the restorative poses that isusually performed near the end of the practice. It is also an inversion. Thus, it has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system and the flow of cerebral spinal fluid.
Benefits
Helps to strengthen the digestive system.
Reduces stress, fatigue and calm brain.
Promotes alertness and flexible spine.
2. Trikonasana (Triangle pose)
Steps for Pose
Stand with your legs about 3 feet apart.
Now raise both your hands keeping it at a straight line with your shoulders.
Bending towards the right side, touch the toes of your right leg with the fingers of your right hand. Alternatively some yoga schools may also teach you to touch the toes of your right leg with your left hand fingers.
Raise the left hand towards the ceiling and look up towards your left hand.
Hold position for a minute.
Repeat the same with the left side too.
How It Works
Trikonasana creates a series of triangles with the body. These actions result in a powerful stretch of the front leg hamstrings. With a secondary stretch of the back leg hamstrings and gastroc-soleus muscles. It also stretches
theupper-side abdominal and back muscles.
Benefits
Stretches and strengthens your hips, groin, hamstrings, calves and spine.
Stimulates your abdominal organs, aiding in digestion
Therapeutic for stress, anxiety, infertility, flat feet, neck pain, osteoporosis, sciatica and symptoms of menopause
3. Pawanmuktasana (Knees to chest pose)
Steps for Pose
Lie flat on the floor on ayogamat.
Now fold legs at your knees and bring them close to your chest.
Hold your knee caps with both palms. As you hold knees with palms your fingers should be facing the feet.
Now inhale straightening your arms and taking legs away from you. As you exhale bring legs close to you.
Continue with this breathing and knee movement pattern for a minute or two as per your convenience.
When done, move legs away from body and do a side twist with folded knees; once to your right and then to your left.
Then straighten your legs keeping hands by your side with palms facing downwards to do aSavasana. Keep your breathing normal.
Benefits
Gives a gentle massage to the abdominal organs, thus improves
digestion and relieves wind or gas and constipation. Helps body to get rid of unwarranted toxins.
4. Matsyasana (Fish pose)
Steps for Pose
Lie down flat on the mat keeping hands beside your thighs with palms facing downwards.
Now slide hands beneath your buttocks.
Take a deep breath and lift your chest and head. Drop your head back and look at the wall behind you. Your buttocks should be on the floor.
Rest your torso on your elbows and the crown of your head.
Hold this position for 30 seconds as per your comfort level.
To release from this posture. First straighten your head carefully.
Benefits
Improves circulation to head, shoulders, neck and spine.
Relives stress and irritation
Helps to balance hormonal system
5. Sarvangasana/The Shoulder Stand Pose
Steps for Pose
First lie on your back and breathe deeply.
Slowly raise your legs till your feet pint to the ceiling or towards the sky. Your body should rest on the shoulders and the back of your neck.
Your hands should be at the center of your spine and they should support your body.
Your legs and your spine should always be straight. Concentrate on
thyroid gland and breathe deeply throughout the process.
Benefits
Improves functioning of various glands, thyroid, Parathyroid and Pituitary.
It helps to balance the moods and calm the mind.
Helps to reduce tiredness and obesity.
6. Bhastrika Pranayama
Steps for Pose
Seated comfortably on a yoga mat in padmasanaorvajrasana. Keep your hands on your knees. Breathe normally and feel relaxed.
Inhale deeply through your nostrils with full force till your lungs are filled with air.
Exhale forcefully through nostrils making a hissing sound till you have breathed out all the air emptying your lungs.
Remember that in Bhastrika Pranayama, your abdomen should not contract or blow up. Use your chest.
Repeat for another 10-15 times.
Benefits
Refreshes body and mind. It has a regenerating and rejuvenating influence upon the whole body and improves memory.
Circulation is stimulated. The increased blood supply to the head improves eyesight and hearing.
Avoid performing this pranayama if you are suffering from any heart disease or high blood pressure*
7. Bhramari Pranayama
Steps for Pose
Sit on a yoga mat or a soft blanket. Breathe and straighten your spine. Relax.
Breathe in deeply filling your lungs with enough air.
With both the thumbs, close your ears.
Close your eyes and using the middle fingers, press your eyes lightly.
Press either sides of your forehead with the index fingers.
With the remaining fingers, press the sides of the bridge of your nose.
Exhale through your nose making a humming sound while chanting OMmentally. Inhaling will happen automatically.
Perform this exercise either 11 or 21 times as per your comfort level.
Benefits
Improves functioning of various glands, thyroid, Parathyroid and Pituitary.
It helps to balance the moods and calm the mind.
Helps to reduce tiredness and obesity.
