6 Yoga Poses That Can Improve Blood Circulation

Yoga is globally known to have multiple health benefits, and it’s the reason why more and more people of all ages are practicing it now that people are getting more health-conscious. In the US alone, American citizens who practiced yoga have significantly increased over the years, and by December 2020, about 36 million Americans have been doing yoga.

Here are some health benefits of yoga:

• It relieves stress. When done in perfect meditation and breathing exercises, yoga can help lessen stress. This is the reason why more adults are doing yoga.
• Since yoga can relieve stress, it also improves mental health. The lesser people get stressed, the less they are likely to experience mental health issues.
• It improves flexibility. Research has proven that even the lowest intensity styles in yoga can increase flexibility.
• It increases strength. Yoga can help a person become more flexible, and styles that improve flexibility also increase strength.
• It helps improve sleep. If you have problems with sleep, yoga can help you fix those problems to get better sleep at night.
• It promotes better posture. If you have a bad posture, the easiest and cheapest way to correct it is by doing yoga.

Aside from the benefits mentioned, did you know that there are yoga poses that can improve the circulation of blood flow? The secret to keeping optimal health is proper blood circulation, and maintaining good health is crucial in our time today. If you haven’t been doing yoga for a while and you want to improve your blood flow, grab a mat or any water-resistant fabric if you don’t have a mat, then try these six yoga poses that can improve blood circulation:

1. Camel Pose (Ustrasana)

Camel pose can improve blood circulation in the brain. It also helps calm the nervous system and tone the spine.

To do this:

• Start by kneeling, then widen your leg so when you kneel your knees won’t touch.
• Bring your palms at the back of your hip. It should be facing down, like how you do when you touch your lower back. Hold this position.
• Push your hips slowly forward and carefully place your hands to your ankle while arching your upper body. Make sure that as you incorporate each position, you are inhaling and exhaling slowly.

2. Downward Facing Dog

This yoga pose places the heart above the head, and this position allows gravity to improve blood circulation and increase the flow of blood.

To do this:

• Start with a seating position with both of your legs extending forward on the mat.
• Straighten your spine, then lift your right leg while keeping your foot on the ground. Twist your upper body to the side of your right leg while your right hand is extending on your back to form as leverage while you twist your upper body. Inhale and exhale, then do the same on the other side.

3. Seated Twist Pose

By twisting your stomach, it will cut the blood circulation of your digestive organs for a moment. By untwisting, your digestive organs will gain a rush of blood which will stimulate them.

To do this:

• Start with a seating position with both of your legs extending forward on the mat.
• Straighten your spine, then lift your right leg while keeping your foot on the ground. Twist your upper body to the side of your right leg while your right hand is extending on your back to form as leverage while you twist your upper body. Inhale and exhale, then do the same on the other side.

4. Triangle Pose

To do this:

• Start by standing straight, then spread your legs so your feet are far away from each other. Your legs should form a wide inverted “V”.
• Face your whole body to your right, make sure your feet will follow, then spread your arms apart. Your arms should look like a straight line. Don’t forget to breathe.
• Once your whole body is facing the right side, slowly bend your upper body downwards, keep your arms straight so by doing this, your right hand will touch your right foot. Once you are in the full position of the triangle pose, your head must be looking straight to the sky, opposite to your right foot. Keep the position and breathe.

5. Happy Baby

Happy baby helps increase blood circulation in your lower body.

To do this:

• Start by lying on your back. Keep your spine straight.
• Fold your lower body upward to your face, make sure your thighs will be close to your abdomen.
• Make an L shape with your lower body your knees to foot on the sky. Touch the outer parts of your feet, then slowly bring your legs to the ground.

6. Forward Fold

The forward fold is a standing position that increases blood circulation to the upper parts of your body and brain.

To do this:

• Start by standing up then carefully fold your body by reaching the ground with your head. Your feet must stay planted on the ground while folding your body downward.
• Bend your elbows. Both elbows should be facing the other, then hold on to each elbow using the opposite hand. Hold the pose for a minute if you can.

Conclusion

Maintaining good physical and mental health is crucial now that multiple calamities are happening in different parts of the world. Our minds and bodies must be to face any challenge. During your free time, try to find convenient ways to boost your health, like doing yoga, because it’s something you can do anywhere and any time without spending much.

Yoga is also an activity you can do with your family, so relax and free your body from tension with your loved ones.