Jacqueline is a former member of the Canadian National swim team with over 10 years experience as a fitness professional. She holds a graduate degree in Health Sciences and is also a nutrition expert. Jacqueline is the co-owner of Move to Heal, a sport injury, Yoga, and Pilates clinic located in the heart of downtown Toronto in the Thompson Hotel Residences.
August is fast approaching and it’s that time of year when we start to feel the patio season creeping up on us. The summer is always a tough time because you have to find a fine balance between patio fun and rocking those hot summer outfits. Yoga is great way to help you cleanse your body; it is low impact, detoxifies your internal organs, boosts metabolism, increases energy, and helps you find inner zen after one too many sangrias.
The best yoga poses to do to help get your blood flowing, deliver oxygen and fresh blood to your muscles and internal organs, and clear out any brain fog are twists and bends. How does this work? Well, think about a dirty sponge after a long day of cleaning. I always wring out my sponge when I am done cleaning to get rid of the dirty water. This is kind of how yoga works. Twisting and bending helps you to wring out your organs from the stale blood and oxygen and allows for new fresh blood and oxygen to enter. After a great yoga session, your body will not only feel lighter but you’ll have more energy.
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In yoga, we practice Ujjayi breathing, or “the ocean breath,” which helps to calm and relax the body. Diaphragmic breathing immediately lowers stress levels, including cortisol, which is responsible for belly fat, including visceral fat. Visceral fat is the fat that accumulates around our internal organs and is not only the most unhealthy fat (it causes coronary artery disease, among other things), but it is also the hardest to get rid of. Yoga breathing is also the most efficient way to bring more oxygen into our lungs, which increases our circulation and bumps up our metabolism. Yoga helps cleanse the body of fat caused by stress and unhealthy habits. Yogic forward bends and inversions with our legs overhead helps to reverse the flow of blood and oxygen, stimulate the lymph system, and refresh our entire body and mind.
So, what are the best poses to do? Well, certain twisting postures, like eagle pose, increase circulation in the legs and combat cellulite and varicose veins by increasing blood flow to your limbs. This pose also works to lengthen your muscles and tone your body. Warrior 3 is also a great way to strengthen your leg muscles and activate your core, which challenges your overall stability and gets your blood pumping from your head to your toe tips.
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Bridge pose and supported shoulder stand are both great bends, which stimulate your thyroid gland, increasing your metabolism and regulating your hormones. If you are new to yoga, just try out plough pose by simply laying on your back and lifting your legs up and over your head, you will feel an immediate release in your lower back and an overall feeling of relaxation – it works!
Try out some of these poses at home and reap the benefits of twists and bends during the summer months. Most importantly, always remind yourself that everything you could possibly ever want, have, or need is right here inside of you.
Will you be trying out these yoga poses? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.