Latest news with #AksharYogaKendraa
Hindustan Times
26-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Struggling with high LDL? Yoga expert shares 9 simple yoga poses to lower bad cholesterol
High cholesterol doesn't always show symptoms, but it can quietly impact your heart health over time. You don't need a complicated routine to start making a difference. Yoga, a gentle yet powerful practice, can help support healthier cholesterol levels by improving digestion, boosting metabolism, and supporting liver function—all key factors in managing LDL (bad cholesterol) and supporting HDL (good cholesterol). Unlike intense workouts, these yoga poses are easy and can be done right at home. Plus, yoga helps reduce stress, a hidden factor that can raise LDL. So, below are some of the best yoga poses to manage cholesterol levels naturally. Yoga can help prevent high cholesterol levels.(Adobe Stock) Yoga poses for cholesterol Find 9 best yoga poses to reduce bad cholesterol levels (LDL) and boost good cholesterol (HDL), supporting heart health: 1. Kapalabhati Pranayama (Skull shining breath) This includes rapid breathing techniques that stimulate the abdominal organs and improve metabolism. This supports liver function and helps break down bad cholesterol in the body. How to do it: Sit comfortably with your spine tall. Inhale deeply, then exhale forcefully through your nose while pulling your stomach in. Repeat for 30 rounds. 2. Sarvangasana (Shoulder stand) 'A powerful inversion pose that improves blood circulation and stimulates the thyroid gland, which helps regulate metabolism and supports the breakdown of LDL (bad cholesterol),' says yoga expert Himalayan Siddha Akshar, founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa. How to do it: Lie on your back and lift your legs upward. Support your lower back with your hands, keeping your legs straight and toes pointed. 3. Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half spinal twist) This seated twist promotes healthy digestion and helps reduce abdominal fat over time, contributing to lower bad cholesterol. How to do it: Sit with both legs extended in front of you. Inhale and lengthen your spine, exhale and twist, reaching toward your foot. 4. Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) This pose stimulates abdominal organs and promotes fat burn, which helps in reducing bad cholesterol and improving overall liver health. How to do it: Lie on your stomach with your hands under your shoulders. Press into your palms and lift your chest, keeping elbows bent. 5. Dhanurasana (Bow pose) By activating the liver and pancreas, this backbend helps improve fat digestion and supports the body in reducing LDL cholesterol levels. How to do it: Lie on your stomach and bend your knees. Grab your ankles, then lift your chest and thighs off the ground. Bow pose can help improve blood circulation.(Freepik) 6. Paschimottanasana (Seated forward bend) 'This forward fold improves digestion and helps the body eliminate fat and toxins, reducing bad cholesterol buildup<' explains Akshar. How to do it: Sit with legs stretched forward. Inhale to lengthen the spine, and exhale and fold forward to touch your feet. 7. Tadasana (Mountain pose) This pose improves posture, builds focus, and sets the tone for a deeper practice and increased mindfulness. How to do it: Stand tall with feet together and arms at your sides. Inhale, raise your arms overhead, and lift your heels if comfortable. 8. Chakrasana (Wheel pose) This backbend energizes the body and stimulates blood flow, supporting heart health and regulating high cholesterol levels. How to do it: Lie on your back, bend your knees, and place your palms under your shoulders. Push your body upward into a full arch. 9. Shavasana (Corpse pose) 'A deeply relaxing pose that helps reduce stress, a known contributor to high cholesterol and overall imbalance," as per the expert. How to do it: Lie on your back with your arms at your sides. Close your eyes, breathe gently, and let your body fully relax. While these yoga poses can support heart health by helping to lower cholesterol, they may not replace the need for medication in many cases. Doctors often prescribe medication to reduce the risk of more serious heart issues. That said, practicing yoga is completely safe and offers additional benefits to support your heart health. Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 1. How often should I do yoga to lower cholesterol? Practicing yoga at least 4–5 times a week, along with a healthy diet and lifestyle, can help improve heart health and support better cholesterol levels over time. 2. Can yoga replace cholesterol medication? While yoga has many benefits, it shouldn't replace medication unless your doctor advises it. 3. Is yoga safe with high cholesterol or heart issues? Generally, yes. But it is always wise to consult your doctor before starting a new routine, especially if you have any heart-related conditions.
Hindustan Times
23-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Struggling to fall asleep? Try these 5 yoga poses to calm your mind before bed
Sleep is more elusive than ever in the high-octane stress of modern life, where our minds are still reeling after sprinting through the long day, from packed commutes to intense work hours. As the day winds down, sometimes one may not be able to relax and still continue to overthink. Yoga is one of the ways to calm down before your bedtime. Calm yourself down with the help of yoga so you can sleep better. (Shutterstock) ALSO READ: Stress affecting liver health? Yoga expert shares 4 breathing techniques to boost natural detox Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, yoga expert and founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa, shared with HT Lifestyle the role of yoga in calming the mind before sleep. He said, 'Yoga trains us for strength and discipline our body, but it is also a way of calming the mind. Ten to fifteen beats of gentle movements with deep breaths will help release pressure accumulated during the day. In the longer view, this soft practice sets a precedent for your body, training it to relax and get ready to enjoy a peaceful sleep. Doing yoga at night takes just 10 – 15 minutes, but the benefits can be long-lasting. Over time, the body will connect the signs of stretching with preparing and going to bed, so falling asleep becomes a breeze." The yoga expert shared 5 asanas and how to do them: 1. Balasana (Child's pose) Certain stretches, like balasana, help in easing the pelvic pain.(Shutterstock) On your mat, touch your toes together, kneel, and sit back on your heels while stretching your arm forward, with your forehead resting on the mat. Breathe slowly and deeply. Stay for 1- 2 beats and let yourself relax. 2. Reclining Butterfly Pose( Supta Baddha Konasana) Reclining butterfly poses help to ease tension in the hips.(Shutterstock) Bring the soles of your feet together and let the knees fall out toward the bottom. Let your hands rest on your belly or beside you. This disguise opens up the hips and lends itself to decelerate and steady breathing. Stay also awhile, soaking up time to wash down all the worries from the day. 3. Legs- Up- the- Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) helps reduce fatigue.(Shutterstock) On your rear with your legs resting up against a wall. Let your arms be by your sides, closing your eyes. Slow breaths are taken also as you stay in this position for 5 to 10 beats and let the fluid semblance of peace engulf you. 4. Cat- Cow disguise( Marjaryasana – Bitilasana) Cat cow pose helps ease tension from the spine.(Shutterstock) The sway from back and forth gently chokes up tautness in the spine. Come onto all fours. Inhale, lifting the aspect and the tailbone (Cow pose). Exhale round the rear and tuck the chin (Cat pose). Repeat slowly for 1 to 2 beats. This sequence unknots each held-up pressure. 5. Corpse Pose( Savasana) The Corpse Pose helps the body fully relax. (Shutterstock) This last disguise provides seal to your practice. taradiddle flat on your rear with arms relaxed at the sides, the triumphs facing over. Close the eyes. Make no movement for however long you stay in this asana. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
News18
23-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Yoga For The Earth: How Sustainable Yogic Living Heals You And The Planet
Last Updated: Embracing eco-yoga isn't just about fitness; it's a compassionate, responsible way of living in alignment with the Earth Yoga is a powerful conduit between individual wellness and planetary health. As humans, we are part of nature – just like the plants, animals, rivers, and oceans. Yoga teaches mindfulness and conscious action, promoting a sustainable lifestyle that includes reducing meat consumption, choosing eco-friendly habits, and cultivating compassion for all living beings. It nurtures curiosity, inner peace, and innovative thinking, while also making the body physically strong and elevating intellectual capacity. Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, author, columnist, and Founder, Akshar Yoga Kendraa, shares how yoga can guide us toward both personal transformation and planetary healing. Yoga for Conscious Living Opt for eco-friendly yoga clothing made from natural, organic fabrics. Use reusable yoga props such as bricks and mats to reduce environmental impact. Yoga fosters harmony with the Earth by cultivating awareness and encouraging a positive mindset. It also serves as a powerful deterrent to addiction—be it alcohol, drugs, or gambling—offering emotional balance that heals individuals and, by extension, their communities. When you heal yourself, you heal the Earth. Yoga is a sacred path that builds a conscious connection between individual actions and global impact. It discourages the exploitation of animals and ecosystems, while embracing simplicity, sustainability, and respect for all life forms. Healing Walk This ancient practice blends gentle movement with a connection to nature. Raise your arms shoulder-width apart, palms facing each other, and begin walking. Sync your steps with your breath and walk barefoot on the grass to connect with the Earth. Start with 2–3 minutes and gradually increase to 10 minutes. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog) Begin on hands and knees Curl your toes and lift your knees Straighten your legs and aim to touch heels to the mat Hold for 10 seconds Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose) Lie on your back and bend your knees, feet hip-width apart Lift your hips towards the ceiling Interlock your fingers beneath your back and stretch forward Hold for 10 seconds Vrikshasana (Tree Pose) Stand in Samasthiti (Mountain Pose) Place your right foot on your left thigh Engage your core, find balance, and gaze at a fixed point Bring your palms together in prayer pose and raise them upward Hold for 5 seconds Marjariasana (Cat-Cow Pose) Come to all fours, hands shoulder-width apart Inhale and lift your chest, forming an arch (Cow Pose) Exhale and tuck your chin to your chest (Cat Pose) Focus on spinal circulation and breath Vrischikasana (Scorpion Pose) Begin on forearms, hips raised Walk your feet in, lift one leg, and kick into a forearm stand Once stable, bend your knees and bring your feet toward your head Arch your spine and gaze forward Hold for 5 seconds From its ancient roots to modern practice, yoga remains deeply connected to nature, mimicking animals, trees, and natural elements. Embracing eco-yoga isn't just about fitness; it's a compassionate, responsible way of living in alignment with the Earth. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 23, 2025, 16:43 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Yoga at your work desk: Experts suggest 4 quick stretches and 3 ergonomic furniture for better posture
Work often takes up the lion's share of our waking hours, making it difficult to squeeze yoga into the routine. But long hours of slouching at a desk not only strain your back and cramp your neck, they can also snowball into more serious health issues over time. This calls for a balanced approach and a shift in mindset, one where you consciously take out five minutes during work to do yoga, right at your desk. Stretching your body from time to time is important when you are working for long hours.(Shutterstock) Moreover, beyond individual efforts to incorporate yoga at work, workplaces also need to support wellness by creating yoga-friendly spaces, including the use of smart ergonomic furniture. HT Lifestyle reached out to experts who shared how both individuals and organisations can bring yoga into the workplace. ALSO READ: Stress affecting liver health? Yoga expert shares 4 breathing techniques to boost natural detox 5 minutes of yoga at work Long hours of sitting at the desk make it essential to do some desk yoga to ease the strain.(Shutterstock) Generally, the mainstream image of yoga includes a mat and big spaces, but in reality, one doesn't need all that, as there are simple poses that can be done right at the desk. Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, yoga expert and founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa, shared with HT Lifestyle how yoga can be done at the work desk. He said, 'If you thought you needed a mat, a big room, a whole hour to be able to reap the benefits of yoga, think again. While an ideal yoga practice needs to be regular and disciplined, you can use many yogic techniques to instantly relieve you from stress and energise your mind and body, even at work.' He recommended some easy yoga poses that you can do in between work: 1. Tadasana: After every couple of hours of sitting at a desk job, stand up and stretch your complete body, interlocking the fingers and lifting full arms over the head, with bodyweight on toes, repeat 5 times. Benefits: This ensures blood flow throughout the system and instantly energises the entire muscular system, re-aligning the body. 2. Greeva Sanchalan Kriya: While seated at the desk, straighten the spine and slowly rotate the neck clockwise, inhaling while going upwards and exhaling while coming down 5-8 times, repeat anticlockwise. Benefits: It releases stress from the neck and shoulders and re-centres the mind. 3. Skanda Sanchalan Kriya: The neck and shoulders hold major stress, especially in seated jobs. Make sure to lengthen the spine, sit straight and do 10 rounds of shoulder rotations, forward and backwards, inhaling while raising the shoulders and exhaling while bringing them down. Benefit: This releases the stress from the entire upper body. 4. Shwaas Dhyaan: While seated comfortably, straighten the spine, eyes closed, and start focusing on the movement of the breath. Inhale for 3 seconds, hold the breath inside for 3 seconds and exhale slowly in 3 seconds. Repeat 5-11 rounds. Benefit: A quick meditation technique to bring the mind to the present and re-focus. Other than these desk stretches, walking also helps beat the stress. The yoga expert explained, 'Whenever possible, take a quick break from the desk, raise both arms upwards and lengthen the spine. Take a short walk at a medium pace around the office campus, if possible outdoors, around nature. A quick round of healing walk after lunch is a great way to stay away from the post-lunch slump.' Workplace furniture that supports yoga Workplace furniture matters as the posture plays an important role in back pain from long hours of sitting.(Shutterstock) Now that you are aware of how to practice yoga individually at work, it's equally important for workplaces to support it by introducing ergonomic furniture that can make yoga a seamless part of the workday. Dr Shubhada Karande, Occupational Therapist and Ergonomic Consultant, Interio, shared with us how organisations can encourage movements and good posture with the help of the right furniture. She said,'As the Indian workplace continues to evolve, employees are spending more time at their desks. Extended hours and sedentary routines often lead to physical strain, poor posture, and rising fatigue. Addressing this requires more than reminders to take breaks; it calls for thoughtful workspace design that makes movement and comfort part of the workday. Yoga, with its focus on alignment, breath and body awareness, offers a practical approach to daily wellness. When combined with ergonomic furniture that enables micro-movements and supports healthy posture, yoga-inspired stretches can be integrated into the work routine without needing extra time.' Dr Shubhada shared 3 workplace furniture which support micro-movement of yoga at work: 1. Height-adjustable desks: Prolonged sitting contributes to stiffness and reduced circulation. Height-adjustable desks promote the micro-movement of the switch between sitting and standing throughout the day. At this type of desk, try the Standing Quad Stretch Pose. This opens and stretches a group of muscles like the quadriceps. This pose is a beautiful combination of strength and balance. Strong quadriceps can help one keep balance in day-to-day activities and ensure safety and stamina in athletic activities. 2. Ergonomic chair: Sitting without support for long periods can lead to back pain and poor circulation. A flexible chair promotes micro movements throughout the work hours, but also provides flexibility when performing stretches while sitting. One can incorporate a Seated Side Bend by sitting upright with feet flat on the floor, raising one arm overhead, and leaning gently to the opposite side. The adjustable height allows for proper posture during both sitting and light stretching. It opens the side body, supports deeper breathing, and reduces tension in the shoulders and spine. 3. Modular desk layouts for open movement: Open modular systems allow better use of space. These layouts make it easier to incorporate small stretches or mindful breathing practices without interrupting work. This reflects the growing focus on collaborative and wellness-oriented office design in India. A simple Standing Spinal Twist beside a modular desk encourages movement between meetings and supports flexibility. Furthermore, Dr Shubhada Karande also shared what furniture types to avoid as they may put more strain on your back. She said, 'Avoid chairs without adjustable flexibility. Don't go for support and static desks either, as they don't allow for height adjustment. Also, avoid extra cushioning for seating that may affect the spine and reduce posture awareness.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Morning yoga vs evening yoga: Is timing important? Yoga expert answers
Yoga is more than just a form of exercise; it nurtures both physical and emotional well-being. But does the time of day you practice yoga influence its benefits? In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, yoga expert, founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa said, 'Is it better to do yoga in the morning or at night? The answer is straightforward, it just depends on what your own goals are and what kind of lifestyle you lead. There are various rewards for each time of day.' Also read | How daily yoga practice can calm your thoughts, release tension and bring you closer to inner balance Is it better to do yoga in the morning or at night?(Shutterstock) 'Doing yoga in the morning is like meeting the new day with intention. In that stillness of the morning hours the mind is at peace and calm. Morning yoga awakens the body, gets the blood flowing and clears the mental cobwebs. Get set to rise and shine with sun salutations and gentle stretches and breathwork in the morning to get the clarity, focus and energy you need to embrace the day and tackle work and life in a positive way,' the yoga expert added. Also read | Start your Yoga journey now: Simple tips to redefine your fitness goals Yoga releases emotional tension in the body, promoting clarity and balance. (Unsplash) Benefits of doing evening yoga: 'On the other hand, evening yoga is a great way to wind down from a long day. Cleanses the body and mind Relieves tension and quiets the mind Improves blood flow and drainage Reduces pressure and swelling in the legs, ankles and feet. Possess such as forward bends, gentle twists and deep breathing help coax your nervous system toward a relaxed state. If stress or insomnia are lingering concerns, an evening yoga session may be your panacea, which can help you bid adieu to day-by-day woes,' said Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar. Which is best for you? The yoga expert emphasised on the importance of consistency in yoga practice, rather than the timing. 'There's no right or wrong. If you're a morning person, start the day with some energising flows. If your morning routine is too frantic, make yoga your evening refuge. Some even like both, a little bit of early morning power or focus and then something at the end of the day to kind of ease down,' he said. Also read | International Yoga Day 2025: Experts share benefits of yoga at workplace and 5 strategies to include it in daily routine Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition. Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!. Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.
