6 Yoga Postures To Help Your Hair

For how long have you been fighting the horrors of hair issues? You have tried every possible way - from eating the right nutrients to using the best hair care products. But you still haven’t found any solution?

Do not fret. Yoga can help you regain your healthy, strong hair. Yes, you read it right. Performing yoga every day will improve your hair growth and also keep your overall health in check.

The benefits of yoga include increasing blood circulation to your scalp, improving digestion and reducing stress and anxiety levels[1].Let’s find out what are the best yoga asanas for your hair health.

Our Ayurvedic Doctor Speaks

"Though Ayurveda and Yoga are considered as distinct disciplines, both of these originated from Vedic roots and often go hand in hand. Both the practices have common underlying principles that work to bring balance to your mind, body and soul.’’

-Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedix

6 Yoga Exercises That Help Your Hair Grow

1) Balayam Yoga Mudra (Rubbing Nails)

The process of rubbing your nails against each other is known as Balayam yoga. It is one of the simplest and easiest ways to reduce hair fall. You just need to practice it everyday for 5-10 minutes.

When you rub your fingernails, there is a nerve ending below it that stimulates your brain to send a signal to revive dead and damaged hair follicles.

Balayam Yoga also helps stimulate the blood flow to your scalp, reducing hair issues such as dandruff and premature greying.

How to do:

• Curl the fingers of both your hands inwards towards your palm.
• Bring your nails in contact with each other and start rubbing them. vigorously. Ensure leaving the thumbnails out.
• Keep rubbing it continuously for 5-10 minutes.

2) Pada-hastasana Yoga (Standing Forward Bend)

Known as Standing Forward Bend in English, Pada-Hastasana Yoga heals and rejuvenates your body.

In this asana, your head receives blood circulation when it goes below the heart. This posture provides oxygen  [2] to your hair cells and energizes them.

It also relaxes your mind and relieves stress, one of the major causes for hair fall. The bend improves your digestive system by giving it a good massage, which also aids in healthy growth of hair follicles.

"Practicing Pada-hastasana regularly can reduce menstrual and menopausal problems in women," says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.

How to do:

• Stand straight and keep your legs close to one another.
• Inhale deeply.
• Now while exhaling, lift up your hands and bend forward, until your fingers and hands touch the floor.
• If possible, you can also bring your hands behind your heels. Hold on to this position while breathing normally.
• When you want to come out of this pose, inhale deeply and slowly stand back straight.

Vedix Tip: Pada-hastasana stretches your entire muscles and connective tissues. Hence, it is very important to warm up before doing this asana. Avoid practicing this asana if you are suffering from a back injury, hamstring tear, Sciatica or glaucoma.

3) Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose)

Known as mountain pose in English, Parvat-Asana, like other asanas, increases blood flow to the scalp, which helps innourishment of hair roots.

This asana helps stretch and strengthen the abdominal muscles. When your abdominal muscles are stretched, it compresses the digestive system organs, including your liver and kidneys, therefore keeping them in a good working condition.

A good digestive system helps in supplying more nutrients to the hair[3], thereby promoting healthy growth of hair follicles. It also calms your mind, thus reducing anxiety and stress.

 How to do:

• Stand on your four limbs.
• Exhale and gently lift your hips and straighten your elbows and knees. Ensure your body forms an inverted ‘V’.
• Your hands should be in line with your shoulders, and your feet in line with your hips.
• Make sure that your toes point outwards. Now, press your hands into the ground and lengthen your neck.
• Your ears should touch your inner arms, and you should turn to your navel.
• Hold for a few seconds, and then, bend your knees and return to the table position.

Click this to see how Adho Mukha Svanasana is done.

"Though Ayurveda and Yoga are considered as distinct disciplines, both of these originated from Vedic roots and often go hand in hand. Both the practices have common underlying principles that work to bring balance to your mind, body and soul," says Dr. Zeel.

4) Vajrasana (Diamond Pose)

Also known as Diamond Pose[4], this is the only asana that is practised after meals. It helps in digestion, keeps the spine straight and relaxes the back.

Improper digestion can lead to constipation and less supply of nutrients to the hair cells, in turn causes breakage and damage. With regular practise, Vajrasana can improve digestion.

‘’You can also prevent ulcers and acidity with the help of Vajrasana. It reduces stress as well, which is one of the major triggers for hair loss,’’ says Dr. Zeel.

How to do:

• Sit on the floor straight. Stretch your legs and keep your spine erect. Your heels should be together.
• Place your hands by your side palms facing the ground.
• Fold both your legs, keeping them under your thighs; first the left leg and then the right.
• Place your hands on your upper thighs.
• Sit in a relaxed position and breathe in and out deeply.
• Return back to your original posture of sitting with stretched legs.

Check this to see how Vajrasana is done.

5) Uttanpadasana (Raised Feet Pose)

This asana is also called Raised Leg pose. It is very helpful for those suffering from back pain and stomach disorder. You can practice this asana by raising one leg at a time also.

Uttanpadasana strengthens the abdominal muscles. As your head rests on the ground, there is blood circulation to the scalp, which is beneficial for weak hair follicles.

As fresh oxygen is rushed to the hair cells, it provides nourishment which helps in reducing brittleness and dryness.

How to do:

• Lie on the ground with arms by your side and palms facing the floor.
• Stretch your body and slowly raise your legs at a 45-60 degree angle from the ground.
• Keep your legs raised for a minute or even more if you can hold it.

6) Shashank - asana (Rabbit Pose)

Popularly known as the Rabbit Pose, this is an important yoga asana that is beneficial for the scalp and back. It should be practised in the morning and the evening.

Shashank-asana is a forward bend pose. It stretches and strengthens the neck and the spine muscles, thus relieving the body from stress and tension.

It also improves blood circulation throughout the body and helps in the better functioning of the digestive system.

"Practicing Shashank-asana daily will help you to sleep better. A good sleep is essential for healthy hair growth. It also helps in reducing hormonal imbalance in the body,’’ says Dr. Zeel.

How to do:

• Sit in Vajrasana.
• Put both your hands forward on the ground.
• Place the crown of your head on the floor and slowly exhale.
• Hold this position until five breaths.
• Inhale as you slowly unroll yourself back to Vajrasana.
• Relax and repeat again.

Click this to see how Shashank-asana Yoga is done.

The Last Word

Incorporating these yoga postures in your daily life will help in fighting your hair problems to a great extent.

Your hair roots will become stronger, thicker and healthier.

It will help you overcome your stress, anxiety and digestion related issues that are indirectly responsible for baldness and hair loss.

However, besides yoga, you must incorporate an Ayurvedic hair care regimen after knowing your hair type and always eat healthy.

At Vedix, we formulate a customized Ayurvedic hair care regimen for your unique hair and scalp issues.