Love handles may sound awww and oh-so-mushy, but for those who know what it is, the name is super misleading. For the unacquainted, it refers to excess fat deposits around the waistline. A fallout of the modern, sedentary lifestyle and a diet oozing with harmful fats, those love handles are a warning sign of impending serious health concerns like heart disease.
In collaboration with The Channel 46, Nikita Agrawal, Founder of Isira Yoga, suggests 5 yoga asanas to get rid of those unhealthy love handles.
1. Naukasana (Boat Pose)
Instructions to reach the pose
- Lie on your back, with your feet joined together.
- Place your arms resting beside your body.
- Inhale and lift your head, chest and feet off the floor with your hands stretched towards your feet, keeping fingers and toes straight.
- Breathe normally while holding the posture.
- Feel the tension in your navel and abdominal muscles.
Cautions
- Asthma and heart patient
- Avoid during pregnancy
2. Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana (Revolved Head To Knee Pose)
Instructions to reach the pose
- Sit on your mat and extend your legs.
- Bend your left knee inwards and draw your left heel towards the perineum.
- Inhale, lengthen your spine, raise your left arm over your head and rotate your upper body towards the right.
- Exhale and bend towards your right bringing the right arm towards the inside of the thigh. Keep the right elbow to the floor and clasp your toe with your thumb.
- Bend further to reach the right foot with the left hand.
- Twist, open the chest and look up to the ceiling.
- Breathe normally while holding the posture.
- Release the posture and repeat on the other side.
- Repeat the steps by switching the legs.
Caution
- Avoid in situations with chronic injury to hips, knees, back or shoulders
- Avoid during pregnancy
Read: 5 Yoga Poses If You Woke Up With A Stiff Neck
3. Ardha Matsyendra Asana (Seated Twist Pose)
Instructions to reach the pose
- Sit cross-legged on the mat.
- Lift your right knee and place its sole on the mat outside your left knee.
- Inhale and raise your left hand to the ceiling stretching it up, exhale and bring your left elbow down to the outside of your right knee while twisting your torso to the right side from the base of your spine.
- Place your right hand on the mat behind your hips for support or if comfortable wrap it around your waist, and turn your head to the right looking past your right shoulder.
- Keep shoulders in one line.
- Breathe normally while holding the posture.
- To release slowly unwind and repeat on the other side.
Caution
- Listen to your body, and twist accordingly
- Don’t strain your neck
- Avoid during pregnancy
Read: 5 Yoga Postures To Regulate Your Menstrual Cycle
4. Vasisthasana (Side Plank)
Instructions to reach the pose
- Lie on the ground (on the stomach) facing downwards.
- Bend your legs backwards and catch the ankles with the hands
- Lift your chest and thighs off the mat and come up on your navel.
- Breathe normally while holding the posture.
- To release, exhale slowly and come back to the starting position.
Caution
- Spondylitis
- Back or neck injury
- Hernia
5. Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)
Instructions to reach the pose
- Lie on the ground (on the stomach) facing downwards.
- Bend your legs backwards and catch the ankles with the hands
- Lift your chest and thighs off the mat and come up on your navel.
- Breathe normally while holding the posture.
- To release, exhale slowly and come back to the starting position.
Caution
- Spondylitis
- Back or neck injury
- Hernia
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