How many of you have thought of exercise as part of your beauty regimen? Yes the Ads are filled with suggestions to exercise as a way to lose pounds, but that’s not what I am referring to.  How about what the benefits could be if we thought of exercise as our beauty regimen because it reduces stress and helps our moods in terms of total well-being?  I believe that when you feel better you look better.  So, in future posts, HairBlues will share with you some suggestions for including various exercise techniques to reduce the stress in your day.  Other posts will explain why we want to have exercise in our lives as a part of our beauty regimen.

With that said, have you heard about Downward Facing Dog?  LOL

♦ Downward Facing Dog is a Yoga position, which it turns out has many benefits as listed below. Make sure to check out the video by clicking the link at the end of this post.

♦ The pose is so good for many of the things that plague our society today: fatigue, back pain and stiffness from sitting all day

It wakes you up. Sophie Herbert cites B.S.K. Iyengar, the 94-year-old founder of Iyengar yoga, who says that Downward Dog is one of the best poses you can do when you’re fatigued. “He recommends at least a minute in the pose,” she says, “to bring back lost energy for runners after a hard race.” It works equally well, she adds, for those of us who are just tired from a long day at the office.

It eliminates stiffness and back pain. “I find it’s good for people who get pain in their shoulders and upper back,” says Herbert. “Practicing it with proper alignment can make your upper back more flexible and less likely to store so much tension.”

It builds bone density.  Postures line Downward Dog as well as more difficult arm balances that place weight on the arms and shoulders are great for building upper body strength and preserving bone density

It boosts circulation. Any pose where the heart is above the head is a good one for the circulatory system, because it encourages blood flow throughout the body. An active circulatory system helps flush toxins from our body, keep our immune system in tip-top shape, and helps regulate blood pressure.

If you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor before attempting downward dog, as well. It’s a good check in with your body. Herbert says that yoga classes spend so much time in Downward Dog because it’s a good way to “take inventory” about how you’re feeling. “It stretches your arms, legs and back all at once, and you can take notice of what feels good and what you need to work on.” via Get 6 Amazing Benefits From Practicing Downward Dog: Flash: Self.com.

Check out the Video at the link below.

♦ The next time you peer into the bathroom mirror and notice any crow’s-feet, bunny lines or other facial wrinkles, you may want to consider busting into a downward-facing dog to slow down these signs of aging.

♦ According to Kimberly Fowler, owner of Yas Fitness Studios in Los Angeles, yoga in general is anti-aging as it helps with achieving flexibility and reducing stress. via Anti-Aging Yoga Poses: Can The Downward-Facing Dog Take Years Off Your Look? (VIDEO).

I hope this is helpful!