4 Yoga poses to increase oxygen levels in our body
Wrong sitting posture, lack of physical activity, stiff chest muscles affects our chest muscles. This affects our breathing and oxygen levels in our body. So it’s very important to stretch our chest muscles (front, back, side muscles). It will not only increase the volume of our chest but also helps to breath freely, prepare us for pranayama.
Few tips along with yoga poses
1. Sitting posture- our diaphragm play very important role when it comes to breathing. 70-75% work is done by diaphragm. When we are round our spine, when we don’t sit erect the entire chest collapse on diaphragm making its movement difficult. So it’s always advisable to sit erect. As Gita says samam Karen shiroghriham. (Keep head, chest in one line). Not only for meditation but for every time we sit.
2. How to sit – avoid hyperextension of spine, shoulders are relaxed and are in one line.
If sitting on floor in cross lrg is difficult you can always take pillow under your hip. This will create space in our upper body and align organs.
Following poses can be twice a day. Each pose can be repeated thrice.
Give the gap of 3 hours if you had heavy meal.
It’s been said that ‘’yato man tato prana” ‘’where mind goes prana flows” so it’s essential to be with ourselves and be aware of our body while practicing yoga.
1. Sitting parvatasana – sit in comfortable cross leg position. You can also sit on chair. Slowly join your hands together and take your arms up. Stay there for couple of seconds with normal breath.
2. Bhujangasana (cobra pose) – Lie down on your stomach, join your legs together and keep your palms and elbow on the floor Inhale, raise your chest up with the help of your hands and exhale. Hold this position for few seconds and breathe normally.
3. Janu Sirsasana- Sit in Dandasana. Bend your one right leg from knee. Touch the right foot to your inner left thigh. Raise your hands up from the side ways. Bend forward and try to touch your hands to your left toes.Try to touch your forehead to your shin.
Repeat this with other side.
4. Relaxation along with bolster- keep bolster vertical and sit on the floor. Let your hips remain on the floor and upper body resting on bolster. Straighten your legs and relax for a while