It’s no secret that practicing yoga has many benefits for our health and well-being. Yoga can relieve muscle tension, improve flexibility, reduce stress, give us an energy boost﹣not to mention, it can also be a fun and enjoyable pastime.
But did you know that yoga can also be good for your skin?
September is National Yoga Month, and here at Club West Med Spa in Midlothian, VA, we want to share the benefits of yoga and inspire our clients to take their skin care to the next level.
Here’s everything you need to know about yoga for skin care!
How Does Yoga Improve Skin?
Breathing and bodily movement can create a harmonious balance for your skin. When you move your body, you increase your respiratory rate and oxygen intake. As this occurs, toxins, pollutants, and waste are flushed out from the muscles and organs﹣including the skin.
Additionally, moving your body can balance your hormones, reduce cortisol (the “stress” hormone), and diminish and prevent redness and acne in the process.
That’s not all. Because yoga improves flexibility, it can also reduce wrinkles.
Pair yoga with plenty of sleep, lots of water, and the occasional facial, and you can achieve a healthy and more youthful glow!
So, what are some simple yoga poses you can do for your skin? Let’s “namaste” to your best and most beautiful skin!
Best Yoga Poses for Healthy Skin
Cobra
Open your lungs and reduce stress and tension with the power of the cobra pose.
You begin this pose by lying on your belly and stretching your legs out behind you. Make sure the tops of your feet are touching the floor and your thighs firm to the ground.
Place your hands on the floor under your shoulders. Your elbows should be hugging your sides.
Inhale. Straighten your arms and push your chest forward. Keep your thighs to the ground. Elongate your neck and feel your shoulder roll back. Hold for a few breaths, and then exhale.
This pose can reduce tension and stiffness and provide a boost of oxygen flow to organs. It can also lower cortisol levels.
Simple Seated Twist
A healthy gut is strongly correlated with healthy skin. If you’ve ever experienced acne breakouts and gastrointestinal issues simultaneously, there’s a reason why. Inflammation in the gut lining can cause a stress response in the body. It can also cause bacteria and toxins to leak from the intestinal wall to other parts of the body.
The simple seated twist is a gentle yoga pose that can target and increase circulation to the digestive system, reducing inflammation and boosting energy to this area.
You start this pose seated upright. Straighten your spine, neck, head, and tailbone. Make sure your legs are extended straight in front of you.
Bending your right knee, cross your right leg over your left thigh. Your right foot should be sitting beside your left thigh. Then, bend your left knee and ankle along your right glute muscle.
Twist your body to the right with your hand firm on the floor. Breathe deeply and slowly. You can also raise your left arm for a deeper stretch.
Repeat on the other side.
Standing Forward Fold
Healthy blood flow can move oxygen and nutrients to our skin cells. The standing forward fold is a great yoga pose for rejuvenating your facial skin.
Stand with your feet firmly on the ground. Place your hands on your hips. Exhaling, bend forward with your hips.
Depending on how flexible you are, you may be able to do this pose with a slight bend in the knees and your palms on the floor. But if your muscles feel tense or stiff, bend your knees more until you feel a good, deep, and comfortable stretch.
Keep your fingertips to the floor and allow your head to hang. As you inhale, raise and lengthen your torso. This will allow you to release a little more with each exhalation.
Mountain Pose
When you’re feeling stressed and need to find your center, practice a mountain pose and give your skin a well-deserved boost of oxygen.
Stand with your feet together and firmly on the ground. Make sure your heels are slightly apart from one another, press your shoulder back, and keep your arms hanging beside your torso. You can also raise them in front of your chest and clasp them together into a prayer position.
As you inhale, press weight evenly into the balls and arches of your feet. Focus on the moment, lengthen your tailbone, and draw in your stomach. Practice inhaling and exhaling deeply and slowly.
For a deeper stretch, you can lift your toes and spread them apart. You can also lift the arches of your feet.
Practice Yoga for Skin Care
With National Yoga Month underway, there’s still plenty of time to roll out your mat and stretch for better and healthier skin. For more skin care tips, stay tuned to our blog!