The aging clock is ticking. While the market is flooded with anti-aging serums and related products, they cannot stop our skin from wrinkling over time, which is an inevitable process.
However, some people retain a youthful glow for a long time, while some suffer from premature skin aging, i.e., their skin ages faster than it should. Can this process be slowed down in natural ways without lathering ourselves in chemical-laden lotions and creams?
A close friend of mine, who joined a pranayama online class last year, seems to be quite happy with the benefits, including her healthy and glowing skin. It makes me wonder whether we can actually maintain a healthy appearance, at least until we reach a certain age.
-
Why does skin wrinkle with age?
Wrinkles and fine lines are signs of our body getting older. The aging process makes the skin more fragile and more dry, as the sweat and oil glands produce less oil. Like a dry sheet of paper is easier to wrinkle, our skin tends to crease and fold at this stage.
The effects are more visible on the parts of the skin frequently exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, and arms. The suppleness, smoothness, and complexion depend on genetics. Still, according to experts, 80% of signs of aging appear because of environmental reasons like sun exposure and pollutants in the atmosphere. Among other major factors, a lack of physical activity and a poor diet can also affect your whole body.
To reduce premature skin aging naturally, certain lifestyle changes and healthy habits are essential, such as using sunscreen, drinking lots of plain water, eating well (fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants), avoiding smoking and alcohol etc.
-
Can yoga and pranayama practices help reduce the skin’s aging process?
Going back to my friend’s experience with online yoga and pranayama classes, this is a vital question. Pranayama is a part of yoga, it is basically yogic/meditative breathing exercises. In a pranayama class online, you are taught to inhale, exhale, and pause your breath in specific patterns.
The goal is to encourage relaxation and mindfulness, by promoting a union between the body and mind. Techniques such as kapalbhati, anulom vilom, bhastrika, ujjayi and bhramari pranayamas have a powerful impact on the body. By supporting blood circulation and improving the functioning of organs such as the heart and the lungs, the breathing exercises aid in sufficient oxygen flow to the facial region, making us glow from inside out.
A 2016 study published in the Future Science Journal shows that yoga asanas (postures), breathing practices (pranayama) when practiced together may have the potential to “reverse the molecular mechanism of skin aging”. The beauty benefits of regular yoga and meditative practices have been acknowledged in recent times by medical professionals, researchers and celebrities.
So, will signing up for a pranayama online class help slow down the formation of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging?
Most likely, yes.
If combined with other favorable health and lifestyle habits, it is a great tool to look young and counter the process in a natural, cost-effective and non-invasive way.
