Detoxifying the body can be a polarizing topic. Some people insist that you need to do a juice cleanse, go on a diet, or to fast once in a while to remove unwanted toxins in the body. There’s even a whole industry dedicated to detoxing products from teas to masks to supplements.

However, the body is naturally equipped with its own toxin-eliminating processes which keeps it naturally healthy. Health experts argue that you don’t have to actively do anything to detoxify since the body can carry this out on its own. But that does not mean we can’t do additional things to support our body’s innate ability to cleanse itself.

Today, we’ll be going through how yoga can support the body’s natural detoxing process.  

How Does the Body Detoxify Itself?

The body has four primary systems that detoxify it and eliminate waste including the circulatory system, the lymphatic system, the digestive system, and the excretory.

The circulatory system is responsible not only for pumping blood throughout the body but also for delivering oxygen to the organs and collecting waste from the body’s cells.

The digestive system, on the other hand, is responsible for processing the food we eat, delivering the nutrients throughout, and separating the waste and then delivering them to the liver.

Meanwhile, the lymphatic system collects and transports intracellular fluids to the lymph nodes. In the process, it removes anything harmful before returning the lymphatic fluid to the bloodstream.

Finally, the excretory system gets rid of wastes, eliminates useless byproducts excreted from cells, eradicates harmful chemical buildups and maintains a steady, balanced chemical concentration in the body.

Apart from these main systems, the skin, lungs, and liver also serve excretory functions as part of the body's natural detoxification process.

Detox-Boosting Yoga Poses

Yoga has myriad benefits for the body both physical and mental. This includes increased flexibility, increased muscle strength and tone, improved respiration, energy, and vitality, maintaining a balanced metabolism, weight reduction, cardio and circulatory health, improved athletic performance, protection from injury, and improved stress management and mental well-being.

These yoga poses will not only help ease your mind but will also help boost your body’s natural detoxifying ability.

1.  The Locust

This pose helps stimulate your digestive tract which stimulates the release of unwanted body waste. It also helps strengthen your back while encouraging good posture.

How to do it: While lying on your belly, keep your forehead down and place your arms on either side of your body. Inhale and lift your head and torso, press the back of your hands into the ground, then lift your leg while stretching them up and back. Exhale and release down. Repeat as necessary.

2.    Child’s Pose

The child’s pose is a calming and restorative pose. It not only balances your nervous system but it also squeezes and stimulates your digestive tract.

How to do it: Go down on all fours and send your hips back towards your heels. Extend your arms forward or place your arms alongside your legs. You may rest your head on the yoga mat or on a block.

3.    Revolved Chair Pose

This pose improves the health of your spine and vertebrae while also stimulating the liver, spleen, and the digestive system. It also tones the abdominal muscles which help in improving the elimination process of your body.

How to do it: Stand with your feet hip-width apart and bend your knees as if you are sitting on a chair, ensuring that your knees are aligned centrally with your feet. Bring your hands firmly together towards your chest and bring one elbow to the opposite knee. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and open your chest wide.

4.    Reclined Twist

The reclined twist helps stimulate digestion by squeezing the digestive tract. It also helps improve your breathing and alleviate a variety of muscle aches and pains. 

How to do it: Lie on your back with your knees bent, your feet comfortably on the floor and your arms extended out like a letter “T”. Exhale and lower your knees to the left while keeping your head centered or turning it to the opposite direction of your knees. Do the same for the other side.

5.    Eagle Pose

This pose stimulates the circulatory as well as the lymphatic system. It also stretches the ankles, calves, hips, should, and upper back.

How to do it: Stand with your feet together and your arms by your side. Bring your left foot upward and bend your knee as your lift. Then wrap your left foot around your leg, while resting your left thigh on your right thigh. Cross your arms with your elbows positioned left over right and join the palm of your hands with your fingers pointing upward. Inhale and hold the posture until you exhale. Repeat on the other side.

6.    Revolved Triangle Pose

This pose stimulates the abdominal organs which helps digestion and circulation. It also releases stress and anxiety which energizes the body and mind. Moreover, it stretches and opens up the chest, lungs, shoulders, and spin which increases your lung capacity.

How to do it: Stand with your feet apart. Your right foot should point forward while your left foot should be turned out comfortably. With your hips square with the front corners of the mat, twist your torso to the right as your left arm works its way forward and your right arm back. Reach your left hand down towards your right ankle and rest it on the ground. Finally, reach your right hand to the sky.