5 Yoga Asanas To Help You Detox Post Diwali

Mithai, chakli, chivda and so many more delicious foods that were devoured during Diwali are now showing up in the form of bloating, indigestion and acne. The post-celebration flab is evident and getting back into shape while feeling healthy and energised will need some special attention. This year, instead of going on a juice detox, sudden starvation diet, or some other kind of food fad, try some yoga instead. This rhythmic form of exercise is not just great for your bloated gut but can help reboot the health of your internal organs.

Let’s look at some yoga asanas you should practise that help detox post a festive binge.

Yoga Exercises That Help Detox Your Body

1. Seated Twist Pose (Parivrtta Sukhasana)

It’s common to equate twisting postures with detoxing. Any sort of compression and gentle movement in the torso definitely helps to get things moving downward and outward in the digestive system.

How To Do It:

1. Sit firmly on both sitz-bones with your tush behind you (rather than completely underneath you) to ensure a long spine. 
2. With the feet together, lengthen up through the crown of your head as you reach your heart forward. 
3. Take your right hand to the mat behind you, either on your fingertips or with a flat palm, and hug your knees or hook your elbow to the outside of your right knee, as you twist your chest open to the right.
4. Make sure both sitz-bones stay grounded to ensure the twist happens in the upper part of the torso and not the sacrum. 
5. Hold for at least 5 breaths, lengthening up as you inhale, and deepening the twist on the exhale.
6. After 5 breaths, switch sides.

2. Twisted Chair Pose (Parivrtta Utkatasana)

Twisted Chair strengthens the lower back, increases flexibility, and tones the internal organs, especially the digestive system. Energetically, it helps you wring out what you don’t need.

How To Do It:

1. For this mega twist, first start in Chair Pose, making sure your big toes are together and you can see your toes in front of your knees. 
2. Take your hands to Anjali (namaste) mudra at your heart centre, and hook your left elbow to the outside of the right thigh as you twist open to the right.
3. Keep your knees in line, and press strongly into your palms to deepen the twist, unfurling your chest up and open to meet your thumbs as you roll your right shoulder away from the right ear.
4. After 5 breaths, come back to the centre. Switch sides.

3. Warrior II Pose (Virabhadrasana II)

This asana builds stamina and concentration, energises tired limbs and stimulates your abdominal organs.

How To Do It:

1. Stand straight with your legs by keeping a distance of 3-4 feet between each other.
2. Inhale and raise both hands parallel to the ground and turn your head to the right.
3. While exhaling slowly turn your right foot at 90 degrees to the right.
4.  Slowly bend your right knee. Keep in mind that the right thigh should be parallel to the ground. Stay in this position for some time. Breathe (inhale) deeply 4 times.
5. After this come to your original standing position and breathe normally. And perform the same steps for the left leg by turning the head to the left.
6. Repeat this cycle 4-5 times.

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4. Dancer Pose (Natarajasana)

Natarajasana is great for reducing weight and significantly improves your digestion and increases metabolism. The asana works on strengthening your chest, thighs, ankles, and greatly improves body flexibility. It also clears your mind, reduces stress, improves blood circulation, and is very beneficial for the spine.

How To Do It:

• Stand in the initial step of the mountain pose, breathing normally. Focus your gaze at one point.
• Bend your right knee to raise your leg backwards and hold the right big toe with your right hand.
• Remember to maintain your body weight on the left leg.
• Next, try to raise your leg backwards as far as possible. 
• While you do this, remember to rotate your elbow in such a way that the right should point upwards.
• Keep raising your feet until it reaches the back of your head.
• Now raise your left arm to the front, keeping it straight and your palm facing downwards.
• Strike balance in this pose, focusing on one single point in the front and breathing normally.
• Hold this pose for about 20 seconds to a minute.
• Repeat with opposite limbs.

5. Camel Pose (Ustrasana)

The camel pose causes stretching in your abdominal region. It opens up the hips, stretching deep hip flexors, and stretches that strengthen the shoulders and back. Along with that, this asana expands the abdominal region improving digestion.

How To Do It:

1. Kneel on the floor.
2. Arch your back slowly.
3. Touch your heels with your hands.
4. Hold this for 30 to 60 seconds.

Key Takeaways

• Cut back on sugar and fried foods
• Avoid crash diets as they might cause acidity, fatigue or dizziness
• Drink lots of water to flush out the toxins
• Eat fresh, local and seasonal produce to help your digestive system
• Cut down on caffeine and alcohol intake for a while
• Ensure adequate and quality sleep each night
• Eat foods high in prebiotics to keep your detoxification system healthy
• Decrease your salt intake so that your body doesn’t retain excess fluid
• Practice the above yoga asanas to detox your body.