Home / Health Tips / Benefits Of Yoga Asanas & 6 Asanas That You Can Do During Winters
Yoga is a form of exercise, which has been practised in our country for a long time. Unlike other forms of exercise, yoga is the only exercise that focuses on the spiritual, mental and physical wellbeing of an individual. From muktasana to sinhasana, there are a number of Yoga asanas that one can practise and all of these asanas have their own benefits. Though yoga is practised all year round, there are some special benefits of doing yoga for the winter season. So, we have listed some of the benefits of yoga asanas during winters.
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During the winter season, the cold and chilly weather worsens joint pain. Practising yoga asanas in ‘Vinyasa’ style or a flowing form helps to maintain mobility in the joints, increases blood circulation and alleviates stiffness in the joints. Heat is one of the best ways to ease pain, and the heat generated while doing yoga helps to keep the body warm. This heat relaxes the muscles in the body and soothes the pain in the joints. You can also perform yoga for back pain.
An essential component of yoga is breathing exercises. In yoga, both inhaling and exhaling are done through the nose. Inhaling through the nose tends to warm the cold air entering the lungs. The groove-like passages that are present in the nasal airways filter the air before letting it go to the lungs. This helps to protect the lungs from certain allergens that would otherwise irritate the respiratory system of the body. Not only do breathing exercises such as ‘pranayam’ and ‘kapalbhati’ benefit the lungs, but they also strengthen the relationship between the respiratory system and the nervous system.
Also read: Yoga Asanas That Can Help To Cure Migraine
The skin regularly detoxifies the body in conjunction with various other internal organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs and immune system. A combination of central heating, cold winds and low levels of humidity tend to make the skin dry and dehydrated during the winter season.
Doing yoga during this weather helps to build up sweat, which is the body’s natural way of cleansing the pores of the skin and maintaining skin hydration. This, in turn, improves the texture and the suppleness of the skin. Since the person is sweating, the body has to work harder to cater to the energy demands of the body. Not only does this improve blood circulation, cardiovascular and respiratory function, but it also helps in maintaining healthy body weight. Thus, reap the benefits of yoga poses for weight loss.
During times of stress, the hypothalamus releases the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for alerting the body during stressful situations and regulating the immune system of the body. High levels of cortisol in the body compromise the body’s immune system and make people susceptible to infections and diseases. Apart from keeping the body active, yoga also helps to relax the body. When the body’s nervous system is relaxed, the body’s immune system is more effective in attacking foreign organisms such as bacteria and viruses.
Must read: Best Yoga Asanas For Lower Back Pain
During the winter months, people tend to suffer from SAD, i.e., seasonal affective disorder. This disorder, also known as winter blues, has winter-specific symptoms. These include a low mood, increased appetite, low levels of energy and the need to sleep more. The days tend to be shorter in winters, which means that people get less sunlight. So, other benefits of yoga asanas include elevating your mood.
Yoga is a great way to make up for the low levels of light during this season. Incorporating ‘Surya namaskars’ into your morning yoga routine will not only build heat inside your body but will also increase and improve the integrity of the cardiovascular and the respiratory systems of the body. This will then help to elevate your mood, make you feel energetic and re-balance the circadian rhythms (sleeping patterns) of your body.
This yoga asana means that you are supposed to sit forward and bend down to touch your toes. Paschimottanasna is highly recommended for all those who have headaches and even helps to fight depression. It is even ideal for weight watchers as the bent position helps in reducing the body weight to a good extent.
Wondering which is the best time to do yoga asana – surya namaskar? Then, we suggest you do surya namaskar during the morning time. This is because during the morning you are active enough to perform yoga asana. Furthermore, surya namaskar is highly effective asana for generating heat within your body and keeping your body warm even during the winters. So, make sure you perform at least 10-12 sets of surya namaskar every day during the winters.
Also read: Yoga Asanas To Help Reduce Belly Fat
This is a bow pose and is highly beneficial for your health. Performing dhanurasana benefits those who have the problem of constipation. Dhanurasana is also recommended for all women who have severe menstrual cramps. So, it is recommended that women who are in their menstruation period should also perform this useful yoga asana.
The benefits of yoga asanas are well known. Likewise, here is another yoga asana – kumbhakasana that you should perform for a plethora of health benefits. This asana is meant for strengthening and generating warmth within your body. It helps to improve your posture and make your muscles stronger.
It is also known as the triangle pose and has several benefits. Trikonasana is great for reducing back pain and improving digestion. Practising trikonasana also helps to fight against depression and improve your posture.
Also read: 5 Effective Yoga Asanas To Tone Breasts
Bhujangasana is also known as cobra pose. This yoga asana improves blood circulation and also tones your abdomen region. Further, bhujangasana also improves the flexibility of your body parts, especially the upper back and middle region. So, make sure that you perform this effective asana to keep your body healthy during winters.
So, take some time out for yourself during the mornings to practice simple yoga asanas and enjoy the benefits of yoga for men and women. Not only will this help you maintain healthy body weight but it will also protect you from infections and diseases during the winter months.
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