Yoga for anti-ageing: These 2 asanas can take care of wrinkles, sagging jawlines

Research has shown that yoga halts cell degeneration

Written by Kamini Bobde

Updated: July 13, 2024 11:15 PM IST

3 min read

Incorporating classical yoga postures, breathing exercises and meditation, was associated with positive changes in the levels of biomarkers of cellular ageing. (Express Photo)

The global anti-ageing market size is expected to reach $120.23 billion by 2030. Can there be a way to postpone those worrying wrinkles and sagging jaws without dipping into your pocket? Yes, yoga asanas can help you postpone these tell-tale signs while keeping you healthy with a glowing complexion.

That yoga helps is not just conjecture. Now research has established this. Madhuri R Tulahunase and colleagues demonstrated that a 12-week intervention, incorporating classical yoga postures, breathing exercises and meditation, was associated with positive changes in the levels of biomarkers of cellular ageing, including 8-OH2dG, a product of DNA damage; oxidative stress markers; and telomeres, the cellular clocks that shorten with each cell replication.

When these benefits are combined with poses, which cancel out the effect of gravity in pulling down jawlines, cheeks, yoga becomes a potent tool against ageing.

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Matsya asana (Fish pose): This asana helps in stretching the neck area and tilts the face backward thus establishing the anti-gravity pull that tightens your skin, jaws, all face muscles and works against the lines building in the neck area and face.

The matsyasana pose

You can sit with legs stretched out if you cannot sit cross-legged as in Padmasana.
Tilt your head backwards with elbows supporting your body.
Inhale with head dangling back and arch your spine fully. You may rest your head on the floor if suspending it is difficult initially.
Hold as long as comfortable and with the help of elbows, get back to the starting position.

Shirshasana: This has an anti-gravitational benefit, combined with a rush of blood to the brain, heart, liver, lungs, the pineal and pituitary glands. This helps wash out toxins and reverses ageing.

The first step of doing the shirshasana

Support your head with your palms with your arms forming a triangle.
Stretch your legs and walk forward until thighs are pressed against your stomach.
Slowly with a push, begin to straighten your legs up with knees bent.
When the torso is straight and the body balanced, begin to straighten the bent knees until the body is in full Shirshasana pose

The second step of doing the shirshasana

Stress, anxiety, worries, anger and hyperactivity contort our faces, leading to premature wrinkles, lines between the eyebrows and sagging jaws. Meditation is a stress buster.

The third step of doing the shirshasana

Shirshasana should not be done by those with BP, heart disease, spondylitis, vertigo and slip disc. Better try against a wall initially or you can use props.

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The fourth and final step of doing the shirshasana

(Kamini Bobde is author of “Kundalini Yoga for All” and yoga instructor)

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wrinkles yoga