Everyone wants to have beautiful glowing skin. Science has proven that yoga has a positive effect on the skin. While many yoga poses help cleanse the skin and bring out a natural warm glow, Pranayama’s help increase the effect even more.
What is Pranayama?
It is said that Pranayama regulates the flow of life, or Prana, through controlling your breathing.
Through the ages, Yogis have used Pranayama to calm the mind and solve various problems. Pranayama works on the respiratory system and removes any energy blocks. It helps to purify the blood and also increases the supply of oxygen, all of which leads to great skin.
However, you must remember that Pranayama alone is not enough to solve your skin problem. It must be taken in conjunction with Asana to be more effective.
Pranayama for glowing skin – The best techniques
- Kapalabhati – Breath of Fire
- Anulom Vilom – Alternate-Nostril Breathing
- Bhastrika Pranayama – The Bellow’s Breath
1. Kapalabhati – Breath of Fire
Pronounced – Kah-bah-lah-bah-tee. Thanks to Baba Ramdev, Kapalabhati breathing technique is becoming more and more popular. This advanced pranayama has a wide range of benefits. It’s also called cranial lightening, how can we lighten the skull by breathing? Here, the word “skull” refers to the nasal passages where air enters and exits. This is considered a powerful breathing exercise, a cleansing way to clear the nasal passages and unclog the bronchi.
Kapala is a Sanskrit word meaning skull and Bhati meaning light. This exercise is known to rejuvenate, refresh and purify your mind and body. It is said that when you practice this Pranayama, you must visualize a bright white light filling your skull.
This cleansing breathing technique helps you release stress, toxins, and negative emotions. This automatically leads to a refreshed skin. With regular practice, your skin is cleansed, and has a natural warm glow that takes over.
Other benefits of Kapalabhati
- Cleanses the lungs and respiratory tract.
- Increases oxygen in the cells, thereby purifying the blood.
- Improve digestion.
- Increase heat and provide energy to the body.
- Allows you to focus.
Instructions for performing Kapalabhati
- Sit up straight with your legs crossed. Place your hand on your lower abdomen.
- Take a deep breath to clean your system. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.
- Inhale deeply through your nose, so that your belly is full of air.
- In one quick, forceful motion exhale all the air, pulling your navel upwards. Remember, the main movement should be from the diaphragm.
- Allow the lungs to fill without any effort as your abdomen expands.
- Repeat this 10 times. Then, slowly breathe normally as you observe all sensations in your body.
- Repeat this single cycle of 10 breaths three to four times.
Prevention and contraindications, It is best to avoid this Pranayama practice in the following cases:
- Pregnancy
- Stomach problems
- Acid stream
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Abdominal disease
Stop practicing immediately if you feel dizzy or anxious.
Healing tips: For best results, practice this Pranayama first thing every morning. It will also serve as an invigorating wake-up call.
2. Anulom Vilom – Alternate-Nostril Breathing
Anulom Vilom is also known as alternate nasal breathing. It is a simple yet extremely powerful breathing technique that, like Kapalabhati, addresses emotions, body and mind. It clears the circulation channels and calms you down. Your lungs and blood fill with a new supply of oxygen and all toxins are eliminated.
Remember, when you are not stressed, and your blood is purified, you have beautiful glowing skin. And this Pranayama helps with both.
Other benefits of Anulom Vilom
- Cleanses the lungs and respiratory tract.
- Allows you to focus.
- Restore balance in the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
- Clear all energy channels.
- Invigorates the nervous system.
- Prepare you to meditate.
Instructions for Performing Anulom Vilom
- Sit comfortably with your spine erect.
- Relax, and place your left palm on your lap.
- Bring your right palm in front of you. Place your thumb and ring finger on either side of your nostrils. You can place your index and middle fingers on either side of your nostrils and use them as anchors.
- Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
- Use your thumb to close the right nostril. Inhale to the left.
- Use your ring finger to close the left nostril so that both nostrils close for a brief second.
- Open the right nostril and exhale slowly.
- Now, inhale through to the right, and repeat the procedure.
- Do Pranayama, alternating between right and left for about 10 cycles.
Prevention and contraindications: You must make sure that you do not use force to inhale or exhale while practicing this Pranayama. Breathe in and out gently. Stop practicing immediately if you feel dizzy or anxious.
Healing tips: For best results, you must try and keep your breath steady. Try to inhale, hold, and exhale for the same amount of time. As you continue to practice, you must try and increase your breathing time.
3. Bhastrika Pranayama – The Bellow’s Breath
Bhastrika Pranayam is also known as breath. It is a traditional method of breathing and is said to invigorate. It is often used to clear your mind and give you an energy boost.
This pranayama is known to increase blood oxygen levels. This helps impart a glowing complexion.
Other Benefits of Bhastrika Pranayam
- Increase metabolism.
- Activate proper digestion.
- Remove blocks from chest and nose.
- Stimulates all organs.
- Great for health and happiness.
- Guide to performing Bhastrika
- Sit up straight, legs crossed.
- Relax and take a few deep breaths. Expand your belly with each breath.
- Inhale and then exhale forcefully through the nose.
- Inhale strongly.
- You must ensure that you breathe from the diaphragm. Also, remember to keep your shoulders, chest, head, and neck still while your belly moves.
- Breathe 10 Bhastrika Pranayam in the first cycle. Rest for a few seconds and do 20. After a few seconds, do 30.
Prevention and contraindications:
- You must avoid practicing Bhastrika Pranayam if you have hypertension, convulsions, panic disorder, epilepsy or if you are pregnant.
- Also, avoid this Pranayama practice close to bedtime. It will energize you and activate your mind, and you won’t be able to sleep.
- Stop practicing immediately if you feel dizzy or anxious. Always maintain a two-hour gap between your meals and Pranayama.
Healing tips: Place your hands on the Varun Mudra as you do this Pranayama. This mudra is known to balance the water element in the body. You can incorporate it into any breathing exercise. It helps keep your skin hydrated at all times.
Just touch the tip of your little finger to your thumb, and straighten the other three fingers.
So there you have it – the secret to beautiful, glowing skin. Who knew it would be so simple? All you need to do is breathe! Have you ever considered pranayama for glowing skin? How did it do for you?