So maybe you’re not into yoga. Maybe you even find all of those willowy “yoga-bodied” woman and Jack Sprat-lean men a little, shall we say, insufferable as they scamper around with yoga mats smugly tucked underneath their reed-thin arms?
But, there’s a chance they might be onto something, no? Like, why are they just a little bit calmer, not racing to slide through subway doors at the last minute? Maybe they’re just a smidge more glowing, instead of glowering. Who knows? It could be their genetics, or could it be the yogic effect?
Maybe do your own research on the matter. And here’s a thought: you could start with one of yoga’s oldest and most therapeutic poses, the shoulder stand (or, Salamba Sarvangasa, as it is called in Sanskrit).
As Yoga Journal explains, the shoulder stand is excellent for relieving allergies, alleviating asthma, stimulating your thyroid (hello revved up metabolism!) and calming your nervous system. Sounds good, and feels good to. Just be sure you do it correctly, following the guidelines for entering and exiting this pose. Or, if you’re totally new to yoga, try the legs-up-the-wall pose (Viparita Karani) which is technically easier, but offers some of the same benefits as shoulder stand.
And, what better time to try it than during National Yoga Month.
Ah, you’re already beginning to glow.
Photo courtesy Wikipedia Commons