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Yoga is commonly known as a spiritual and mental practice. Time spent on the mat allows for meditation, breathwork, and building strength. Yet yoga is also “skin deep,” with many poses being beneficial to your complexion.
Your yoga practice may offer healthier skin, a brighter complexion, and a more vibrant appearance, according to Healthline. This is because certain poses increase blood circulation to the face and decrease inflammation, resulting in a healthier look.
Inversion poses do just this and more. According to the Yoga Journal, inversions promote healthy blood circulation, may decrease anxiety, could improve your immune system, and also help to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (link to vagus nerve).
Incorporating these five asanas into your yoga routine may help you feel and look more vibrant. Remember to drink lots of water daily, spend time outdoors, then lean into and enjoy these poses.
Forward Fold
This pose is as easy as leaning over! Uttanasana, or the forward fold pose, increases circulation simply because you are enabling blood to flow down to your face. Uttanasana is a great pose for everyone, especially beginners.
Standing forward bend is not about touching your toes, according to the Yoga Journal. Rather, it is about lengthening your back body, neck, even your scalp, forehead, and eyebrows. Enjoy this rejuvenating pose.
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Downward Facing Dog
Some call this asana downward dog, while others know it as adho mukha svanasana in Sanskrit. This is another inversion that allows your blood to flow forward to your face and head, suggested Healthline.
According to the Yoga Journal, this full-body stretch may tone your legs and arms, open and increase the strength of your shoulders, help to lengthen hamstrings, stretch calves, and could add a glow to your face from oxygenated blood!
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Shoulder Stand
This is an easy and relaxing pose that is great for your complexion. If you practice this pose three to five times a day, it could help get rid of wrinkles, acne, and pimples, reported the Times of India.
Also calledsalamba sarvangasana, this pose may also reduce anxiety, aid in digestion, and assist with insomnia, according to the Yoga Journal.
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Plow Pose
Known as halasana, this pose could aid your digestive system, thereby resulting in healthy skin, according to Times of India.
Practicing this pose on a regular basis may result in a full rejuvenation of the body, according to the Yoga Journal. As it increases circulation, it supports the lumbar and thoracic spinal regions. Plow pose opens your neck and throat area and reduces phlegm in the respiratory and sinuses, plus it helps to lengthen breaths.
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