Seeking Good Skin? Try Yoga!

What’s Inside –

• The struggles of good skin
• How yoga can help you out
• Yoga poses to try

The Struggle of Skincare

Our skin is perhaps the most temperamental part of our body – a single misstep and you can be attacked with acne, dry skin, wrinkles, or a sunburn. But then, our skin often gets the worst of our poor lifestyle too. Alongside the constant barrage of pollution, poor eating and low exercising often reflect on the skin in numerous ways. 

In order to correct these problems, many turn towards products and techniques learnt from the internet. However, all of these methods usually carry their own side effects, and constantly putting on chemicals and products onto your skin can eventually make it resistant to the treatment, or even damage your skin further. Many of these so-called miracle skin products contain harsh oils, alcohols and other chemicals which may correct one problem of your skin – at the aspect of another. Those who have found their pimples reducing only to see their skin become dry and drab know this problem very well.

But what can be done? Is there truly a way to let your skin breathe and actually improving its condition too? Yes, there is.

Yoga – Why it Works

Beauty is certainly skin deep. What many people often do not realize is that when they have skin problems, it may actually be a symptom reflecting some problem in the internal mechanisms of the body. For example, the common skin problem of acne may actually have a number of underlying issues that may trigger or exaggerate the problem, such as hormonal conditions, poor diet, or even certain medications. 

Yoga, as an exercise designed to balance the mind and the body, helps in ensuring the optimal functioning of the various systems of the body, which in turns means a healthier skin. Thus, yoga can help in promoting good skin, as – 

• Yoga can help in improving the blood circulation towards the face and upper body, which means that your skin receives oxygen rich blood, helping it achieve that natural, dewy glow
• This blood circulation also tends to be pure and oxygen-rich as yoga asanas and pranayamas help in detoxifying the body, removing impurities which may compromise skin health
• Poor digestion and excessive heat in the body can also lead to acne and other skin problems – with yoga, you get better digestion, and thus better skin
• Relaxation exercises such as meditation can help in stress reduction. Stress often causes multiple issues to the body, including by increasing acne and increasing tension in the facial muscles.
• Yoga also promotes muscle toning, which means not only do you get better and more clearer skin, but also a more defined facial structure to go with it.

Poses to Try 

If good skin is what you covet, try out these asanas, which will also provide numerous other benefits to your body as a bonus – 

• Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) – Known for making the skin smoother, this asana also helps in removing the physical tension and stiffness of stress from the neck and shoulders. A great mood booster, it also provides the lower back a good but gentle stretch. Hold the pose for at least twenty seconds, and only raise your upper body to the height you feel comfortable.

• Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) – What better than a seamless flow of twelve multi-faceted asanas early in the morning for that flawless skin glow? The Surya Namaskar can be wonderfully restorative and invigorating at the same time, improves blood circulation, tones the muscles, and is known to flush out toxins from the body. Begin by learning each pose properly, and you can gradually increase the number of times you do the entire cycle.

• Halsana (Plough Pose) – A challenging inversion pose that strengthens your shoulders, stretches out your back and helps in relaxation, this asana also improves blood circulation to the face, stimulates the thyroid gland, and reduces stress and fatigue. It is quite hard to get your feet on the floor initially, so you can use a prop of the appropriate height to begin.

• Shavasana (Corpse Pose) – This deceptively simple asana may help you realize just how difficult true physical relaxation can be, while also helping you achieve just that. Ideal after any yogic session, this asana helps in restoring the body back to balance and helping you physically release tension and mentally destress. Hold the pose for up to fifteen minutes to feel its best effect.

• Facial Yoga – A combination of western and Indian methods have given rise to facial yoga, which are exercises that directly target the muscles, tone, and complexion of the skin. Some of these exercises that you can try include – 
  • Puffing up your cheeks with air and releasing them in intervals, which helps keep the muscles supple, firm, and toned
  • Chanting Om with a smile on your face, which helps in stimulating the facial muscles which also helping in mental and emotional cleansing
  • Making a fish face by sucking in your cheeks and holding the pose while keeping your eyes open

• Kapalbhati – Known as the skull-shining breath, this pranayama or breathing exercise helps in cleansing both the mind and the body and improving the capacity of the lungs, which means that your skin gets more purified and oxygen-rich blood, improving its complexion.

• Anulom Vilom – Another pranayama known for its cleansing properties, this exercise additionally packs the benefits of relaxation and stress relief, thus helping in improving your skin. A simple technique, this can be practiced by virtually anybody for its benefits.

So there you have it – good skin can be easier to achieve than what you may have thought. All you have to do is integrate these asanas into your daily practice and maintain a good diet with lots of water, and you will begin to see the results yourself.