Yoga poses for a Healthy Glow!
Winter months can wreak havoc on our skin. The cold temperatures, dry indoor heat and stress of the holidays all add to inflammation and skin problems. Yoga to the rescue! Yoga gives us a youthful glow and restores our skin during this time of year.
Have you ever noticed how your skin just seems to shine after a yoga practice? Sun Salutations, Forward Bends and Inversions all improve circulation and blood flow. Our skin is our largest organ and getting our body moving is one of the best ways to nourish it.
Stress can be one of the leading contributors to skin problems. The deep breathing we use while we practice yoga boosts oxygen in our body and relaxes the nervous system. Regularly practicing yoga calms us down which reduces the inflammation and stress that speeds up the aging of our skin.
Try this Yoga Glow routine to nourish your skin from within! You can do this short routine before bed or first thing in the morning as part of your skin care routine. After your practice treat yourself to a mini facial: mix 1/2 cup plain yogurt with 1/2 cup honey then massage the blend in to your face for a few minutes and rinse with warm water.
Child’s Pose–brings blood flow to the face and calms our mind. Imagine dropping all of the contents of your brain in to the mat and say bye bye to stressful thoughts and your to do list. Take 5 to 8 deep full breaths.
Downward-Facing Dog–gets the blood pumping throughout our entire body and releases tension in our head, neck, shoulders, lower back and hamstrings. Breathe here for 5 to 8 full breaths.
Wide Straddle Forward Bend–oxygenates the body and allows the weight of the world to fall off our backs and shoulders. Stay here for 8-10 breaths.
Plow Pose–awesome way to relieve tension in the lower back and bring blood flow to the face.
Shoulderstand–great for letting the blood flow in reverse and stimulating lymph–stagnant lymph (many of us deal with stagnation during the winter months) can lead to all kinds of skin issues including wrinkles and acne. Stay here for up to 3-5 minutes.
Corpse pose–if you have time, lie still for a few minutes and let your entire body rest to fully reduce all stress and tension in the body. Focus on relaxing the skin on the face, the jaw, the brow and across your collar bones and decolletage.
Kristin McGee is a celebrity yoga and Pilates instructor in New York City. She is currently teaching yoga with Peloton. She is the star of over 100 videos, seen in several magazines and tv shows and is a spokeswoman for many brands and causes she believes in. A proud mom to three, she sure keeps herself busy!