Fasting along with yoga and pranayama is considered as nature’s supreme medicine. To know more about how you can amplify this festive fast with yoga, read on.
Fasting has been referred to as a master remedy. It is the oldest, most effective, and an inexpensive way of treating ailments. As it enables the body to start healing itself. When one fasts, the toxin elimination process is set in motion and the entire body commences a cleansing program.
In every religion fasts are observed as a sacrifice, in the light of being more spiritual. But lately, fasts are observed only to feast on delicacies, which further creates havoc on the body. So, if you are fasting this Navratri, let your body be intimately connected with the mind, and the mind with your emotions. When your body is detoxified through fasting, your mind is also calm, clear, and at peace.
While fasting, you might experience some restlessness, which can be managed by a few light yoga stretches, bends, and pranayama. Other benefits include:
- helping the body with the process of detoxification and energizing it.
- Shifting the stressed-out nervous system to a healing mode, through deep breathing and relaxation.
How can you add yoga to your fast?
- Ujjayi Pranayama.
Taking out just a few minutes, couple of times in the day to practice pranayama, decreases stress, relaxes your mind and body, while also making you sleep better. To do this,
- Sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed and spine straight.
- Take a deep breath.
- While breathing in, focus on expanding your stomach.
- Hold the breath for a couple of seconds.
- Exhale slowly, allowing your stomach to get back to its natural position.
- Do this for 5-10 minutes, twice or thrice a day.
Benefits:
- Pranayama improves the blood flow. As the upward and downward movement of the diaphragm, removes toxins from the blood.
- Boosts immunity as it benefits the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the body. More so because the oxygenated blood makes the functioning of the vital organs better, including the immune system.
- Increases your energy levels.
- Improves posture and reduces inflammation in the body.
- Balasana:
It has the most relaxing stretch on the back, helps in calming the nervous system down. Hence, promoting a sound sleep. To do this:
-Begin by sitting on your heels.
-Keeping your hips on the heels, bend forward and lower your forehead on the floor.
-Extend your arms in the front, with your palms facing upwards or keep them by the sides of your body, interlocked at the back.
-Slowly press your chest against the thigh.
-Hold for as long as it’s comfortable.
- Pawanmuktasana.
Practicing this asana will relieve you of gas, constipation,and acidity. To do this,
- Start by lying down on your back with your arms by the sides of your body.
- With an inhale, raise both your legs and bring them close to your chest.
- Interlock your fingers around the shin, while hugging them closer to your upper body.
- Exhale and lift your head and chest off the floor and bring the nose between the knees.
- Hold this position and take deep breaths.
- You can opt to roll up and down or side to side 3-5 times and then come to the centre.
- Inhale, bring the head down. Exhale straighten the legs and relax.
- Dandasana.
This practice will improve your spinal awareness and will help you to focus and calm the mind. When coupled with proper breathing, it relieves stress and increases concentration. To do this:
- Start by sitting straight on the ground, with your legs stretched out in front of you. Your legs should be parallel to each other, and fingers pointing upwards.
- Press your hips on the floor, and align your crown in a way that it faces the ceiling.
- Flex your feet by pressing your heels.
- Your hands should be by the side of your hips.
- Make sure that your torso is straight but relaxed.
- Ease out your legs, and ground the lower half of your body firmly on the floor.
- Breathe normally and hold the position for about 20-30 seconds.
These nine days as we celebrate the power of Goddess Durga and unite ourselves with the divinity, it is recommended to understand the importance of keeping yourself in line with your body’s ability to function better, and the choices that you make to let that happen. Include the above mentioned yoga asanas for a healthy detox and an enhanced overall health and skin.