The liver is the only organ in the human body that can regenerate itself! Its primary function is detoxification. Other organs like the intestines, kidneys, and lungs work together with the liver to ensure that toxins are transformed into less harmful substances and excreted via urine, stool, sweat, or breath. Regular cleansing of these organs is essential to keep them functioning smoothly. So, how do you detoxify your liver? It’s simple! Correcting your lifestyle is the key, and that’s where yoga comes into the picture.
How Can Yoga Help Detoxify Your Liver?
Certain yoga asanas stimulate the digestive system and massage internal organs like the liver. They strengthen and make abdominal muscles more elastic, aiding the proper removal of waste materials. Including twist variations in your yoga practice can detoxify and rehydrate your spinal column while releasing tension from poor posture. Proper alignment in these poses can also reduce back pain and improve digestion.
Here are 5 yoga poses to detoxify your liver and improve its function!
1. Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)
- Sit up with your legs stretched out straight in front of you on the floor.
- Keep your spine erect and toes flexed toward you.
- Slowly raise both arms straight above your head and stretch upward.
- Exhale and bend forward from the hip joint, moving your chin toward your toes, keeping the spine straight.
- Place your hands on your legs, wherever they reach, without forcing the stretch.
2. Ardha Chakrasana (Half Wheel Pose)
Ardha Chakrasana can be performed in various ways, each offering unique benefits.
- Begin in Tadasana (Mountain Pose), raising your hands as you inhale.
- Place both hands on your lower back.
- Inhale deeply and gently backbend your upper body, allowing a comfortable stretch.
3. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
- Lie down on a mat in a prone position, keeping your feet together.
- Place your hands on the floor at chest level.
- Gently raise your upper body, extending and deepening the stretch to create a graceful arc in your back.
4. Shashankasana (Child’s Pose)
This posture is simple and adaptable. Variations can be chosen based on comfort.
- Sit comfortably in Vajrasana with your palms on your thighs.
- Inhale and raise your hands straight upward, stretching.
- Exhale and bend forward.
- Touch your nose or chin to the ground.
- Keep your arms stretched out with palms on the ground.
5. Anulom Vilom (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
Though not an asana, this Pranayama practice is included due to its immense benefits. Proper breathing is vital for bodily processes, and Anulom Vilom ensures optimal oxygen intake.
- Close your right nostril with your thumb and inhale slowly through the left nostril.
- Remove your thumb and exhale through the right nostril.
- Close your left nostril with your middle finger, inhale through the right nostril, and exhale through the left.
- Repeat this process.
These poses are simple and can be performed at home. However, always practice within your body’s limits and avoid forcing movements. Consult your doctor before beginning any yoga practice, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
We hope these yoga poses to detoxify your liver help you! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more on yoga, check out Healthy Reads or join an expert on a live, interactive session on GOQii PRO within the GOQii App.
#BeTheForce
Picture this: you’re starting your day with a sense of inner calm, strength, and clarity, all thanks to the practice of morning yoga at home. Before we unravel the numerous benefits that come with this enriching practice, let’s first take a moment to delve into the heart of yoga and what it signifies.
When we asked some of our new players what their interpretation of Yoga is, their response was on the lines of ‘People twisting and turning their bodies like pretzels while chanting and sitting like a statue’. Is that what it really is? We took this question as an opportunity to explain what yoga is and what are its basic dos and don’ts.
Get ready to boost your immunity and conquer those pesky viral infections! Monsoons and the ever-changing weather can leave us feeling drained and vulnerable to sore throats, colds, and fevers. But fret not! Yoga Therapy comes to the rescue with its comprehensive approach.
Helps in clearing out the sinus passages, thereby clearing out blockages and allowing for more complete breathing. It invigorates the nervous system and relieves stress and tension.
Opens up the chest. It also sends fresh blood to the head, which helps open up the sinuses further. This asana also activates the thymus glands, one of the main organs of the immune system.
The Legs Up the Wall Pose is a great pose to practice to counter respiratory ailments. When you practice this asana, you might find relief from headaches or backaches that accompany a cold. Practicing this asana calms the mind and makes you strong as your body deals with the cold and helps in reducing fatigue, which usually follows common cold. This asana helps the immune cells to move through your body.
In this asana, your heart is placed higher than the head. There is a reverse pull of gravity that happens when you do that, and this aids in the proper circulation of the lymph and the blood. The mild inversion allows a free flow of white blood cells throughout the body and also helps to drain out the sinuses.
This asana opens up the chest and clears out all the passages. It is essential to try and breathe as much as you can while you are in this pose. This will help open up all the blocked areas that are causing the cold.
When you assume this asana, your chest is raised and your throat is opened up. This improves your breathing and might help alleviate a cold. During colds, one can support the upper thoracic back with a cushion, bolster, or yoga blocks, aiding optimal recovery.
