Fitness Day 2 - Legs up the wall

Legs up the wall - An asana to detoxify ~ Lymphatic cleaning

Because our lymph is rich in white blood cells, it plays a vital role in our immune system and toxin removal from tissues of the body. The better this communication system is working, the better our entire body feels. Our lymph simply has to move around based on how much you move around – it uses the contractions and stretching of your regular skeletal muscles. The only way you can ensure proper lymph circulation is with exercise or massage. No other exercise moves lymph around in so many good directions as Yoga!

Viparita Karani or "Legs-Up-the-Wall" is a restorative yoga posture that helps to relieve congestion and rejuvenate the entire lymphatic system. Yoga practitioners of all body-types, ages and levels of experience can practice this pose. During pregnancy, Viparita Karani is the only appropriate inversion to practice. To invert the body, sit with one hip at the wall and knees hugged into your chest. Spin your body towards the wall to simultaneously lower your back to the flow and extend your legs up the wall. If you want to support your lower back, you can prop a folded blanket beneath your sacrum. This pose can be practiced for five to 15 minutes daily. Turn on beautiful music and sink into the experience of healing.

Other benefits of this pose: relieving tired or cramped feet; gently stretching the calves, back and neck; may relieve a mild backache; and calms the mind. Can help improve or eliminate varicose veins. It soothes the nervous system, increasing circulation. Can help bring balance to blood pressure and relieve hyper-tension. It is also cooling to the system and is reported to lessen the intensity of hot flashes. It is especially great for people who spend too much time sitting and standing since it relieves swelling and fatigue in the legs and feet by reversing the effects of gravity. Viparita Karani is good for almost everything that ails you, including anxiety, arthritis, digestive problems, headache, respiratory ailments, urinary disorders, premenstrual syndrome, and menopause. Something to try whenever you can’t get to sleep!