Need to detox? Try these poses.
These yoga poses allow you to detox naturally and feel great!
There are only a few weeks left in the year, which means we’re all thinking about our new year’s resolutions! If you’re like many people, you’re thinking about doing a detox or a cleanse to start the new year off right and get your body in shape. If you’re looking to do a natural detox, give yoga try!
The yoga poses below include a bunch of twists to remove toxins, alongside other poses that stimulate digestion and the thyroid gland.
Wide-legged Forward Fold with Twist
From a wide-legged forward fold, heel-toe feet wide, about three to four feet apart. Take left hand to right ankle or shin, reach right hand toward the ceiling, and lean back. Stay here or, if it would feel even better, bend right elbow, take hold of the top of left thigh, and lean back. Breathe for 5 deep breaths, then repeat on the other side.
High Lunge Twist Repetitions
From high lunge with left foot forward, inhale to straighten legs and lift arms high. On exhale, come back down to high lunge and twist, reaching right arm forward and left arm back. Inhale back to center. Do 10 to 20 reps, then repeat on the opposite side.
Side-to-Side Chair Twists
From standing, sink hips and reach arms high to chair pose. Look in front of knees and make sure you can see toes. If you can’t, sit back until you can. Take hands together at center of chest, take a big inhale to lengthen through spine, and use exhale to twist to the right, taking left elbow outside of right thigh. Inhale back to center and use exhale to twist to the left. Repeat this sequence 5 times on each side.
Side Crow
Squat on the balls of feet with knees together and fingertips on the ground for balance. Twist to right, hooking right elbow outside of left thigh. Breathe here for a few deep breaths to get comfortable, then place hands shoulder-distance apart on the ground, press into fingertips, and start bending elbows (both energetically reaching toward your midline and not winging out) to tip forward, looking a bit forward, not down. Eventually feet will tip off the ground (don’t force it, it will come!). Breathe here for 5 deep breaths, then repeat on the other side.
Side Boat Pulses
Sit with knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Hold arms, palms up, in front so that hands brush the sides of knees. Lean back until torso is at a 45-degree angle to the floor. Slowly lift feet off of the ground as you straighten legs any amount (it’s fine to have knees bent), forming a “V” with body. From boat, lower middle back to the ground as you reach knees to the right and arms to the left. Return to boat in the center, then lower knees to left and arms to right. Repeat this sequence 10 times on each side.
Bow
Lie facedown, bend knees, and take hold of ankles. Press feet into hands, keeping knees hip-width apart, and lift chest off the ground. Stay here for 5 deep breaths. (If this is uncomfortable, locust is a great alternative.)
All images courtesy of Vera Boykewich.
