Over time, toxins naturally accumulate in the body. The result is more free radicals in the blood. Free radicals are responsible for the visible signs of aging and can contribute to a range of health conditions, including heart disease. Yoga has cleansing benefits that help to rid your body of toxins. With regular practice, your digestive system and circulatory system will work more efficiently.
Various asanas, particularly inversions and twists, help to improve circulation and stimulate the internal organs. This helps the organs and digestive system operate more efficiently. In this way, yoga stimulates the body’s natural cleansing process to more effectively remove toxins.
Inversions help to increase circulation and stimulate digestion, and both are crucial to cleansing the body. Downward facing dog, dolphin pose, plough pose, shoulder stand, headstand and other inversions help cleanse the body of toxins.
Twists also help in the cleansing process. Twists stimulate the digestive system and help flush toxins from the organs of the body. Any of the twist poses work to increase the efficiency of the digestive system, including the seated and supine twist poses.
Any form of yoga will provide cleansing benefits. Some forms of yoga, such as hot yoga or Bikram yoga, have additional detoxification benefits. This type of yoga is performed in a room that has been heated in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Bikram yoga classes are 90 minutes long, providing plenty of time to sweat and release toxins through the pores of your skin in the form of sweat.
Eating what is often referred to as a yoga diet helps with the cleansing process. There is no specific list of foods, but the diet consists largely of whole foods and is usually vegetarian. Eating fresh fruit, vegetables, salads, fiber and avoiding junk foods, fat and high calorie foods and drinking plenty of water help cleanse the body and flush out toxins.