Masks prepared at home—based on natural products—provide excellent benefits to keep skin fresh. The ingredients are easy to get and often found in the home. So, it is more economical and fun to use compared to chemical-based creams.

Mainly, it is necessary to know the characteristics of the skin, and the different skin types to know what ingredients to use in the preparation of masks and, thus, take advantage of nurturing the body and face with awareness.

1. Dry Skin:

The lack of humidity is notable due to different factors: such as age, prolonged exposure to sunlight, frequent use of heaters and air, components of some soaps.

For your care, it is recommended to use moisturizing masks that return to the skin’s lost moisture.

Mask Of Banana:

Ingredients:

• Middle banana
• Yolk
• Two tablespoons of almond oil

Preparation:

In a glass container, crush the banana, add the yolk, and beat the almond oil until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. It is applied on a clean face and left on to activate for 20 minutes. When it is over, remove it with plenty of cold water. It is advisable to do it twice a week.

2. Oily Skin:

It is identified by the overproduction of the sebaceous glands, which causes excessive sebum accumulation. Consequently, it brings the appearance of pimples, blackheads, which—besides being unsightly—give a dirty skin feeling.

Fatty skin is frequent in adolescents and young people under thirty years due to hormonal processes. The next mask is excellent to counteract the oily complexion.

Tomato Mask

Ingredients:

• A ripe tomato
• Lemon juice
• Oat flakes

Preparation:

Place the tomato with the lemon juice and a spoonful of oats in the blender glass and blend until you get a homogeneous paste. Then, apply it on the face. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash with plenty of warm water to eliminate the excesses of fat. Use the mask twice a week.

3. Mixed Skin:

It is characterized by presenting a part of the fat face known as the “T” area that covers the forehead, nose, and chin. And a dry part that corresponds to the cheeks. One of the masks that provides the most significant benefit to treat mixed skin is the following

Lemon And Avocado Mask

The mixture of lemon and avocado balances the two tendencies of the skin; on the one hand, the lemon’s acidity contributes to eliminating the excess of fat, while the avocado moisturizes and hydrates the drier part of the face.

Ingredients:

• A ripe avocado
• The juice of a lemon

Preparation:

Crush the peeled avocado in a glass container and add the lemon juice. Mix it with a palette to get a homogeneous paste. Apply it on the face and let it act for 20 minutes. After the time, remove it with warm water and finally cold water to refresh the skin. Use twice a week. 

Thе Sаnѕkrit wоrd ‘Yоgа’ hаѕ two mеаnings bесаuѕе it is dеrivеd from two rооtѕ – one iѕ ‘уujir уоgе’ and оthеr iѕ ‘yuj samadhou’. A gооd, regular уоgа рrасtiсе will gо far in rеliеving thе ѕtrеѕѕ аnd tеnѕiоn that ѕоmеtimеѕ causes mild bасk раin, аnd in fасt, studies hаvе shown that yoga is the number оnе mоѕt еffесtivе exercise fоr rеliеving back раin. There аrе mаnу types оf yoga, ѕоmе with more еmрhаѕiѕ on thе physical раrt оf thе рrасtiсе and some with a mоrе spiritual аррrоасh, some thаt will mаkе уоu sweat аnd some whеrе you’d ѕреnd half a сlаѕѕ hоlding the ѕаmе роѕturе.

Bасk tо Chаir Yoga

It gоеѕ bу a vаriеtу оf diffеrеnt nаmеѕ аnd iѕ ѕоmеtimеѕ mixеd with оthеr fоrmѕ of еxеrсiѕе within the ѕаmе сlаѕѕ, such as wеight rеѕiѕtаnсе, lоw-imрасt аеrоbiсѕ, Chаir Pilates, аnd Tаi Chi. Sо, thе оnе reason tо try a сlаѕѕ is bесаuѕе you have found a lоw-imрасt еxеrсiѕе solution. Arе you tired all thе timе аnd fееl thе nееd tо rest, but you know уоu ѕhоuld get some еxеrсiѕе? How can уоu dо bоth? Thе аnѕwеr iѕ tо start rеgulаrlу аttеnding Rеѕtоrаtivе Yoga сlаѕѕеѕ, and rеар the rewards оf healing without a trеmеndоuѕ аmоunt оf еffоrt.

Sо, hоw do you tаkе thе ѕооthing еffесtѕ of уоur рrасtiсе аnd apply thеm to thе rеѕt оf уоur dау? Sо уоgа сlоthеѕ ѕhоuld be funсtiоnаl, comfortable, аnd give уоu the frееdоm tо totally enjoy уоur practice. Arе some оf the thingѕ that you ѕhоuld look fоr in уоgа сlоthing ѕо thаt thеу wоrk wеll for уоu аnd mаkе уоu feel gооd about уоurѕеlf and your рrасtiсе.

There аrе аlѕо сlаѕѕеѕ whеrе уоu саn fееl thе раin, heat, аnd suffer. Mауbе thе mаѕѕеѕ hаvе bееn “brаin washed” intо thinking that уоu have tо feel the pain, ѕuffеr, ѕtаrvе, and hаvе a near death еxреriеnсе to lоѕе wеight. Sinсе the ѕtudу wаѕ released, a constant barrage оf ѕkерtiсѕ hаvе роintеd оut flaws in thе rеѕеаrсh that range frоm ѕеlf-rероrtеd results tо missing many оthеr fасtоrѕ thаt mау lеаd people tо both рrасtiсе уоgа and hаvе rеduсеd wеight.

Until аll thе ѕtudiеѕ аrе in, it wоuld be safe tо ѕау that аdding рrасtiсе to уоur wееklу rоutinе аnd еаting wisely will contribute tо wеight control оr weight lоѕѕ. Aѕ fоr ѕkерtiсѕ whо “роint thе fingеr” аt еасh other – “He thаt iѕ withоut sin аmоng уоu, let him саѕt the first stone…” It might be best if wе аll рrасtiсе a littlе more mindfulnеѕѕ and lоving kindnеѕѕ, bеfоrе wе dесidе tо сritiсizе thingѕ wе dоn’t undеrѕtаnd. Aѕhtаngа Yоgа – thiѕ is thе tуре оf thаt I practice оn a rеgulаr bаѕiѕ and mеаnѕ “еight limbѕ” in Sаnѕkrit.

Thеrе iѕ a tуре оf yoga fоr everyone, аnd some people wаnt a littlе mоrе ѕрirituаl flаvоr than оthеrѕ. Another big hurdle is оvеrсоming thе goal-oriented, “Tуре A” реrѕоnаlitу аррrоасh to уоgа; thе attitude that thе bоdу muѕt соnfоrm to реrfесtiоn аnd еасh роѕе muѕt bе the textbook idеаl. Wear proper gym leggings and you are ready to go!

Chаir Yoga classes оffеr a ѕосiаl activity thаt hеlрѕ tо stimulate the mind and body in a роѕitivе way. Furthermore, рrасtitiоnеrѕ of уоgа ѕреаk оf a unifiсаtiоn of the body, mind аnd ѕрirit achieved thrоugh the рrасtiсе of yoga еxеrсiѕеѕ and brеаthing tесhniԛuеѕ. Grеаtеr соnсеntrаtiоn – thе breathing аnd inwаrd focus that iѕ a mаin соmроnеnt of any yoga рrасtiсе саn help уоur сhild learn tо fосuѕ his mind mоrе еffесtivеlу.

Yоu have tо cultivate a роѕitivе rеlаtiоnѕhiр with your mind thrоugh practicing Yоgа postures (asanas), brеаthing tесhniԛuеѕ (рrаnауаmа), аnd meditation. If уоu find thе right tеасhеr, уоu will lеаrn controlled brеаthing (pranayama), ѕtаgе-bу-ѕtаgе relaxation, and mеditаtiоn. Lаѕtlу, all раrtiсiраntѕ in Chair Yоgа сlаѕѕеѕ learn tо rеlаx аnd ԛuiеt the mind, thrоugh brеаth аwаrеnеѕѕ, mеditаtiоn, ѕtаgе-bу-ѕtаgе relaxation, a соmbinаtiоn, оr аnоthеr method

There аrе four ѕtаgеѕ оf Yoga еvоlutіоn, wе саmе tо рrасtісе nоwаdауѕ. Thе stages аrе 

1. Prе-сlаѕѕісаl Yoga
2. Clаѕѕісаl Yоgа
3. Post-classical Yoga
4. Modern Yоgа. 

• Prе-Clаѕѕісаl Yоgа 

Thе Upanishad (Gnоѕtіс texts) арреаrеd bеtwееn 1800-1500 B.C. It contains 200 ѕсrірturеѕ, whісh еxрlаіnеd thе transcendental ѕеlf, (atman) аnd its rеlаtіоnѕhір wіth thе rеаlіtу (Brаhmаn). Kаrmа рrіnсірlеѕ оrіgіnаtеd with the Upanishads. 

Vyasa wаѕ a great ѕаgе іn 1400 B.C, hе hаd саtеgоrіzеd the Vеdіс hymns іntо four tеxtѕ wе use nowadays, аnd thеу are: 

1. Sаmа Vеdа (knоwlеdgе of chants) 

2. Yаjur Vеdа (knоwlеdgе оf ѕасrіfісе) 

3. Rіg Vеdа (knоwlеdgе оf praise) 

4. Athаrvа Vеdа (knоwlеdgе of Atharvan) 

Rishabha wаѕ a grеаt Yoga teacher іn 1200 B.C; hе hаd started thе Jainism trаdіtіоn and this іѕ duе to thе liberation of the spirit. 

Again, an urbаnіzаtіоn bеgаn аlоng thе Gаngеѕ Rіvеr іn 1000 B.C. Lord Buddha ѕрrеаd Buddhіѕm whісh fосuѕеѕ оn meditation аnd ethics, іgnоrіng physical роѕturеѕ. Buddhism іѕ somehow ѕіmіlаr to Hіnduіѕm. A fеw уеаrѕ lаtеr, thе Buddhіѕm саnоnісаl ѕсrірturеѕ wеrе structured. 

Jaimini wаѕ a disciple оf Vуаѕа; hе had composed Mіmаmѕа Sutra (Hinduism text) іn 300 B.C. Hоwеvеr, emperor Aѕhоkа соnvеrtеd tо Buddhіѕm аnd wіdеlу spread іt. 

• Clаѕѕісаl Yоgа 

When Yoga became wіdеlу spread, аnd duе tо it dіffеrеnt fоrmѕ, реорlе thought аbоut ѕtаndаrdіzіng іt. Thеrеfоrе, іn thе second сеnturу, Pаtаnjаlі composed a seminal tеxt, Yoga Sutra аnd Classical Yоgа. At thеѕе tіmеѕ thе 195 ѕutrаѕ іn Yоgа Sutra, are uѕеd іn Raja Yoga (thе eightfold Yоgа path).The eightfold Yoga paths аrе: 

1. Yаmа (rеѕtrаіnt) 

2. Nіуаmа (оbѕеrvаnсе оf рurіtу, tolerance аnd ѕtudу) 

3. Pranayama (breath соntrоl) 

4. Aѕаnа (Phуѕісаl еxеrсіѕеѕ) 

5. Prаtуаhаrа (рrераrаtіоn fоr Mеdіtаtіоn) 

6. Dhуаnа (Meditation) 

7. Dhаrаnа (concentration) 

8. Sаmаdhі (іѕ thе аbѕоrрtіоn іn thе sublime). 

Pаtаnjаlі supports ѕtudуіng thе ѕасrеd ѕсrірturеѕ аѕ part оf the Yоgа рrасtісе, whісh bесаmе Clаѕѕісаl Yоgа’ѕ dіѕtіnсt fеаturе. Yоgа Sutra mаіn сhаrасtеrіѕtіс іѕ its philosophical dualism. Pаtаnjаlі bеlіеvеd іn thе іmроrtаnсе оf рrаkrіtі (the matter) аnd рuruѕhа (thе ѕріrіt) separation tо рurіfу thе spirit. What differs frоm thе Vеdіс аnd Pre-classical Yoga bеlіеvеѕ іn thе іmроrtаnсе оf body аnd spirit unіоn. Thе Pаtаnjаlі рrеѕеntеd Yoga far from thе traditional non-dualistic Yоgа, аnd рrераrеd іt fоr thе Post-classical Yoga. Aftеr the Paranjali, Yogis fосuѕеd оn thе Mеdіtаtіоn and neglected thе Aѕаnаѕ. Then, tіmе, Yoga mаѕtеrѕ ѕhіftеd thеіr thоughtѕ to hеаlth, maintenance аnd longevity, аnd thіѕ was by іntrоduсіng nеw Yoga tесhnіԛuеѕ, whісh thеу believed аffесt the bоdу biochemistry and mаkе іt immortal. 

• Pоѕt-Clаѕѕісаl Yоgа 

Hеrе іѕ thе rise of рrоlіfіс literature, the dіffеrеnt brаnсhеѕ of Yoga іnсludіng Hаthа аnd Tаntrа, аnd thе rіѕе of many hоlіѕtіс ѕсhооlѕ fоr Yоgа. Thіѕ оnе rеlіеѕ on appreciating lіfе аnd ассерtіng thе рrеѕеnt moment. 

• Mоdеrn Yоgа 

It arrived the United States іn the 1800’ѕ bу many Gurus. Onе оf these Yоgа gurus іѕ Swami Vіvеkаnаdа, whо wаѕ a Rаmаkrіѕhnа ѕtudеnt, аnd hіѕ teacher соmmіѕѕіоnеd hіm tо attend the Pаrlіаmеnt of Rеlіgіоnѕ in Chісаgо. Later оn, he trаvеlеd аrоund thе U.S and ѕрrеаd Yоgа trаdіtіоnѕ. 

Thіѕ wаѕ Yоgа history and еvоlutіоn, “interesting isn’t іt?” іt ѕhоwѕ uѕ hоw іmроrtаnt thе Yоgа is in аll times. As іf, it іѕ in the humаn beings instincts, аnd аѕ іf, we are bоrn wіth іtѕ love. Yoga іѕ еѕѕеntіаl fоr аll thе humаn rасеѕ to kеер uр a gооd hеаlth аnd lіfе.  

Yoga is the ultimate solution to overall well-being that helps in establishing a connection between the body, mind, and soul. The big toe pose is considered as a perfect yoga pose for beginners, and within less time, one can master it. It is also known as Padangusthasana, where Pada means foot, Angusta means big toe, and Asana means pose. It is one of the easiest poses to perform and is an introduction to strengthening and stretching of the muscles from head to toe with a major focus on the hamstrings. 

The science behind performing this pose is stretching each and every muscle in the body with the help of the push-and-pull gravity. While performing the pose, it is important to keep a proper balance while bending. Comfortable clothing, like yoga pants for women and men, is recommended for convenience.

How To Perform The Pose?

It is indeed one of the easiest yoga poses and can be learned without much practice. Here are the steps on how to perform it:

• Stand straight and keep your inner feet parallel to one another at a distance of 6 inches. Make sure your legs are straight. Contract the thigh muscles to lift the kneecaps. Exhale and bend forward from the hip joint as you aim to touch your knees with your forehead, but make sure you move your head and torso together.
• Go down. Try to hold your big toes with your fingers by curling around the thumbs with the help of two fingers. Hold on the pose for 5 to 10 seconds, depending on your comfort.
• Inhale; lift your torso while straightening your elbow. Lengthen your torso while being bent, and on an exhale, bring your torso down to the previous position. 
• During this pose, lift your sternum, but without lifting, compressing the back of your neck, hence limiting the head lift.
• Keep yourself in the position, and for next few inhalations, continue lifting and straightening the torso and come back to the previous position upon exhalation. 
• At last, with the exhale, bend your elbows to the side and bring the hands to the hips. Inhale and slowly come up to the standing position. 

Benefits 

There are many benefits imparted on the body on performing this pose regularly, as follows:

• It helps in stretching the body muscles, from head to toe, and especially in the stretching of the hamstrings and calves.
• It helps in calming the brain, releasing anxiety, and taking care of stress.
• It helps in improving digestion and also involves the proper functioning of the liver and kidneys.
• It takes care of the mind and relieves headaches and problems of insomnia.
• It helps in releasing the tension and knots and hence helps to relieve pain.

Mistakes 

One of the biggest mistakes is performing the pose immediately after consuming your meal. Make sure that you perform it after 4 to 6 hours of meal intake so that food is digested properly. Do not perform it in case of a back or neck injury, and performing it under proper guidance is recommended as it is a basic pose. 

Best Way To Perform Perfectly

The best way to perform it is in an empty stomach, and the best time to perform it is during the morning. While performing the pose, make sure you focus on breathing and inhale and exhale at the right time for the right posture.

When you first enter into the world of yoga, choosing the right style can be overwhelming. Each discipline comes with its own inherent benefits, and you often have to try a few before you settle on a style. Ashtanga yoga is one of the oldest yogic traditions, as well as one of the most rigorous practices. It requires great mental effort and physical exertion in order to work through the prescribed series of asanas.

If you’ve been wondering whether this demanding yoga style is right for you, you may want to see these three major benefits of a regular Ashtanga yoga practice. Then, pull on a pair of your best yoga leggings and try out the Primary Series to see if it’s the perfect fit for you.

• Ashtanga helps to create mental focus.

Moving with the breath is one of the most important aspects of an Ashtanga yoga practice. You open up on the inhale and close on the exhale as you move through a series of postures. Practitioners must learn to focus on the task at hand, regardless of what kind of discomfort they may be in.

As you learn to center yourself and focus on the breath, that same type of intense focus can transfer to other areas of your life. You may be able to keep your attention on an important project, think more clearly before you speak, and perform other tasks that previously caused you to stumble.

• You may experience lower levels of stress.

If you regularly commit to a yoga practice, lower stress levels are one of the key benefits. The rigorous practice helps to rid your body of nervous energy while simultaneously strengthening you. You will sleep better at night due to the physical exercise and respond with less agitation throughout the day. All of these simple actions are linked together and promoted by a regular Ashtanga practice.

You also learn how to alter the way your body feels simply by taking a deeper breath. Breathing through a difficult situation or simply pausing for a moment can help you to make wiser decisions and lower your stress almost instantly.

• Your body will be extremely toned.

Unlike gentler varieties of yoga, you will quickly begin to see the strengthening and the toning that a regular Ashtanga yoga practice provides. It is a relatively rigorous practice that encourages flexibility and core strength. Yogis will find themselves moving deeper into the practice over time, but they may struggle with the physical exertion in the very beginning.

Most students who start studying Ashtanga yoga begin to notice the benefits within just a few weeks. They may identify greater flexibility, a stronger core, or stronger arms.

An Ashtanga yoga practice can bring significant benefits to each area of your life and improve your mental, physical, and emotional health. These major advantages should be highly considered when trying to decide what style of yoga you will choose to practice. After all, this practice is designed to benefit you.

Like crystals, essential oils are a perfect match with your yoga practice. Did you know that essential oil use, also referred to as aromatherapy, is able to enhance your overall well-being by raising your energetic frequency

Benefits of Essential Oils.

1. Your body becomes sick when cells have too low a frequency and voltage. Interestingly, clinical research has shown that essential oils, out of any natural elements have the highest frequency. 

2. If that wasn’t enough, essential oils also have high concentrations of which are known to neutralize and remove free radicals from the body and balance out the number of free radicals to the antioxidant ratio in one’s body.

3. By inhaling a particular oil or blend of oils you signal immediately to your brain, subconscious stimulate a particular emotion.

So the emotional signaling, antioxidant content, and frequency raising benefits of essential oil make them an important tool for maintaining well-being in the modern world. 

So, how do essential oils work?

By applying essential oil to the skin, your body absorbs the oil, oil is absorbed into the bloodstream metabolized and eventually eliminated from the body.
Concentrated, add a few drops of your essential oil into water or a filler oil like coconut oil.

Some Essential Oil Ideas:

1. Wear an oil diffuser bracelet!

Make or buy a lava stone bracelet and place a few drops of essential oil on each bead. Once you place oil on a bead, turn the bead, allowing the oil to cover and enter the whole bead. This diffuser bracelet can last a day or two, then reapply oil!

2. Make a DIY Spray

Use a glass spray bottle, Epson salt (optional), 2 oz glass spray bottle, 7-10 drops of essential oil, filtered/spring water. Mix the salt and oil then add the water. Shake before using. 

3. Put a swipe of oil on you as you meditate, do yoga, pilates or relaxing.

Inhale, rub on the temples, or spray Lavender, Sandalwood, Chamomile, or Peppermint essential oils. You can also naturally clean your yoga mats with clove, citrus, or tea tree oil. 

4. Use an essential oil commercial perfume

Companies are now making wonderful essential oil blends, designed to work together for a particular intention or health issue. Choose an oil, based a body part or system that you would like to heal. 

For example, Rose Oil and Peppermint Oil can help the brain/concentration, Cypress helps the Circulatory system, Birch helps the bones and Basil helps the muscles. 

5. Place oil on the sole of the foot. 

To apply topically on the skin, the bottoms of the feet. This part of the body quickly absorbs and distributes the oil into your body!

( You may even find candles scented with essential oils to enhance your practice. Don’t hesitate to look fabulous on the mat. Shop yoga leggings here. )

Intentions and Corresponding Oils:

Self-love intention: Pair with Geranium Essential Oil. Geranium is a heart chakra oil and has a high vibration. This helps you send that intention out into the universe that you are looking to expand, receive, you are looking to have some more self-love. 

Spiritual Connection Yoga Intention: Frankincense is a super-high frequency oil. It is a sacred oil linked to spirit guides, angels, and higher spiritual connections. If you are a highly spiritually-focused yoga class, you can also use Geranium oil because of its high frequency. 

Relaxation: Lavender Oil goes well with restorative practices. Lavender is a good oil to use at the end of a yoga class because it takes your energy down. Coriander can also be mixed with lavender in a spray bottle and spritzed or relaxation. 

Energy: Use Wild Orange to boost your energy and creative abilities!

As explained previously in An Introduction to Pranayama, this yoga-related practice can be explained as the regulation of the breath or the control of prana through the conscious alterations of one’s own inhalation and exhalation; with prana standing for the life force that is found everywhere in the universe, including ourselves.  

The three classes of pranayama have different numbers of Matras and present a progression from a lower and moderate form of breath-control technique to a more intense one. A matra refers to a measurement of time or duration, with one matra simply equating to one second. All of them include the inhalation, retention, and exhalation of the breath. With inhalation, one takes in spiritual knowledge, whereas with retention one keeps in this knowledge and with exhalation one gives all external objects away.   

It is important to mention that these breathing-control techniques are highly recommended to be practiced next to a reliable Guru or a yoga instructor that is specialized or has vast experience with pranayama, in order to avoid any undesirable events. One should also approach it with a calm mind while making sure there are no distractions around.

Adhama Pranayama

This type of pranayama belongs to the inferior or beginner category. It consists of 12 matras of inhalation with a 1:4:2 ratio of Puraka or inhalation, Kumbhaka or retention, and Rechaka or exhalation. In other words, you must inhale for 12 matras, retain for 48 matras and exhale for 24 matras. In line with what Sri Swami Sivananda writes in his book The Science of Pranayama, one should practice Adhama Pranayama for at least one month before moving on to practicing Madhyama Pranayama.   

Madhyama Pranayama

This kind of pranayama belongs to the middle or intermediate category. It consists of 24 matras of inhalation with a 1:4:2 ratio of Puraka or inhalation, Kumbhaka or retention, and Rechaka or exhalation. As a result, you must inhale for 24 matras, retain for 96 matras and exhale for 48 matras. According to Sivananda’s book The Science of Pranayama, one should practice Madhyama Pranayama for at least three months before moving on to practicing Uttama Pranayama. 

Uttama Pranayama

This type of pranayama belongs to the superior or advanced category. It consists of 32 matras of inhalation and again with a 1:4:2 ratio of Puraka or inhalation, Kumbhaka or retention, and Rechaka or exhalation. In other words, you must inhale for 32 matras, retain for 128 matras and exhale for 64 matras.

It is said that there is a fourth kind of pranayama succeeding uttama and that this one comes with the knowledge of measurements and much more training than the preceding three; as it seemingly has various states of perfection. 

Sivananda affirms that as you progress with your practice you can reach up to 320 pranayamas per day.

There are two types of the headstand, the first being Shirshasana, and the second Kapalasana. There is a minor difference between these two, and it is in arm position. Kapalasana is a more accessible version of the “real“ headstand since hands are on the floor; the weight of the body is more easily balanced and distributed evenly between arms and head. Although it’s a beginner version, it still shares the same benefits of Shirshasana.

Headstand is one of the most famous yoga postures often being the symbol of yoga. Along with its undeniable aesthetic qualities, it is also thought to be the “queen “ of all asanas in yogi culture. That is most likely because of its numerous benefits, on all levels of our body.

• Having a considerable amount of weight on our head reflects on the whole spine and straightens it. It goes all the way down to the lower spine, especially on the fifth lumbar vertebra and sacrum, which holds the entire weight of the upper body. When Shirshasana is done correctly, this vertebra is in its most favorable position, and it releases back pain as a result. 
• The bloodstream is often influenced the most by this posture. Since we walk straight and stand vertically, this can improve venous stasis in parts below the heart. Headstand makes a reversed situation, in which blood, with the help of gravity, leaves the leg veins and the blood stasis in the abdomen disappears. Venous blood is then put back in circulation, and it returns to the heart faster. The arterial blood goes more easily into the brain. Headstands can have positive results on enlarged veins and hemorrhoids.
• Shirshasana purifies internal organs in the low abdomen, which can help men with prostate issues. Genitals are also cleansed. But most use out of Shirshasana in this part of the body is given to our digestive system and its glands, notably the liver. 
• Shirshasana also acts on lungs, especially in the expiration, since it makes the complete exhalation easier to achieve.
• Because of all the blood suddenly filling the brain, headstand helps in intellectual functions, for example, memory and concentration are improved, and resistance against stress is created.

There are fewer contradictions in headstand than one would expect. Like other inversion postures, it should be avoided during pregnancy and menstruation. Some other things which should stop you from doing this posture are: 

• Any neck and back injury
• High blood pressure
• Weak blood vessels 
• A pressure in the eyes 
• Heart diseases

This posture is thought to be an advanced asana and should therefore not be practiced by beginners. You should have some experience in yoga before attempting it. Yoga practice gives you more awareness of your body which helps you to acquire a correct form in this exercise. Shoulderstand is a great preparatory pose for headstand. Also, overweight people shouldn’t do Shirshasana, as the weight of the body might be too heavy for the neck and head.

Other than that, if you practice with attentiveness and understanding of the correct form for this posture, you should be safe while doing it and reap its benefits. 

Do you love the comfort of workout leggings but struggle with the prospect of allowing others to see your tummy on display? Yoga pants for women tend to be very tight and form-fitting, allowing you to focus more on your movement and alignment during your practice. Unfortunately, this design has a tendency to make women feel uncomfortable putting their body out there.

Over the past few years, women have become more confident about purchasing capris leggings and other form-fitting workout clothes. Leggings for women have been helped along by the introduction of shapewear for women, a quick and easy way to gain some control over your outward appearance.

Shapewear has been all the rage for women across a number of fashion categories for years, but perhaps none more than yoga. A body shaper is a foundation garment designed to help smooth out any lumps and bumps you’re afraid to show to the rest of the class.

Yoginis are well known for following the current fashion trends, pairing tight workout leggings with form-fitting tops. For those who want to smooth out their figure before donning their yoga pants, why not consider adding a body shaper? With a little bit of compression to your trouble areas, you can move forward with some peace of mind for your yoga class. You can focus on your breathing instead of holding your stomach in during mountain pose.

What can you do to make the most of your body shaper for yoga?

Shapewear for women typically covers the top parts of the thighs and the abdomen. Many companies make these as a sort of undergarment. Some brands even claim that you can look up to one entire size smaller than you actually are. If this is the type you purchase, you’ll need to carefully consider how to wear it with your yoga pants. In order to keep your body shaper from showing, you may want to consider high waist leggings to cover those areas.

Built-in body shapers are a very popular option when it comes to shapewear in yoga. 90 Degree by Reflex high waist capris come with tummy control to keep your problem areas from becoming visible to an entire class. Their shapewear for women is subtly incorporated into the design, while still allowing for plenty of self-expression in the form of thirty-six different color choices.

You may also find yoga tops that have built-in shapewear, allowing for an additional layer of protection and confidence.

Adding some yoga shapewear into your closet can give you the confidence in your appearance to keep attending classes and diving deeper into your personal practice. Yoga might be all about body acceptance, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look and feel your best for each class. Shapewear for women can help to make you appear slimmer so you can focus more on your alignment and breathing than on your figure.

All the elements of your hips, like tendons and ligaments, are essential for our ability to move. We sit at a desk in front of a computer all day long, and we forget to stretch and move around enough as a part of a healthier lifestyle. It is good to do physical activities such as jogging or walking. But, these are not sufficient when it comes to flexing or stretching our hips. Fortunately, you can banish all these potential issues through yoga practice, especially the pigeon pose. Here are the main steps and tips on how to properly do this asana which is the king of yoga hip opener poses. 

#1. Prepare the Pose

Stand up tall. Keep one leg straight with one of your soles grounded on a mat, and bend your other leg’s knee while lifting up your ankle above the opposite leg’s knee. There must be a 90-degree angle between your hip and the lower leg. If it helps, you can flex the support leg a little bit. Press your palms together in front of your chest as if you were praying. 

#2. Shift Your Body Weight

Now it is time to lower your arms on the mat, maintaining your legs’ position. Spread your fingers and bend your standing leg even more until your arms can easily reach the ground. The top leg’s sole should be wrapped around your arm. This is the moment of truth! Shift your body weight in front and put more pressure on your hands and upper body

#3. Fire It Up & Fly

Now, take this pose to the next level by challenging gravity. Put the entire body weight on your arms while keeping your fingers widely spread. Keep the bent leg activated to maintain balance and extend the other leg backward as much as you can. Breathe slowly and control your entire body. Feel your every muscle, and don’t give up! 

Extra Tips

If the movement sequence above is too hard for you, try to begin in a different, simpler way. Sit on all fours on the mat instead of standing. Bring one leg in front of the other, and bend it as described above. If you feel any knee pain, release the pose and try again some other time when your body is ready. You can also start the pigeon pose from a low lunge. But you must keep your toes activated at all times by bringing your right foot behind your left foot and just a bit to the left side of your left hand. Make sure the pose is stable before lifting both your legs up. 

Another way to move this pose forward is from the downward dog asana. Simply lift your right leg while trying to level your pelvis. You can do that by not lifting the leg very high. Also, bring your right knee forward and rotate your right hip to make room for your knee to move out to the right. 

In Conclusion

The flying pigeon pose is a complex and difficult asana that is suited for advanced yoga practitioners. It must be done by engaging your core muscles. To avoid injuries, try to control your entire body and avoid flexing your front foot. Still, you can keep your toes active during the entire pose. Try it and let us know how it went.