Hello everyone,
It wasn’t until a few decades ago, that hair fall used to be associated with middle age. Men and women alike facing hair fall has been known as a sign to prepare for retirement like we say in Marathi..PANNASHI….ie the onset of the fifties. And truthfully in the past generations, hair fall was not an issue until the age of 50 years, but unfortunately that’s not the case anymore!
Why, what has changed? Answer sadly lies with ourselves. WE have changed, our habits have changed, our lifestyle, our food patterns, our food quality, everything. Some may say smoking, genetics, stress it all boils down to the fact that people are aging faster and have multiple ailments due which are called lifestyle diseases. Hair fall at an early age is one of the tell-tale signs. The age at which people have started experiencing hair fall has reduced drastically, sometimes as early as 20’s.
To treat the malaise of this generation we have to go back a few thousand years to the ancient wisdom of Yoga. On the eve of World Yoga day, let me tell you YESS …. Yoga to enhance Hair Growth is possible and highly capable of treating all kinds of hair fall and scalp issues. You can practice multiple yoga poses for real results and also follow it up with diet and a healthy lifestyle. The lockdown sure has shown us that it’s possible to slow down, make intelligent choices if we need to enhance our health and mental make-up. Awareness is the first part, the difficult bit, once we are aware and identify the problems, we need to explore the solutions best suited for our modified lifestyle. There are not short-cuts here.
Let me run you through some perfect Yoga asanas which will help stop hair loss and also induce some growth that has been suppressed. A good yoga teacher or a video of how to do the asanas can be found on YouTube. So I am not repeating them here.
1. Vajrasana or the Thunderbolt pose
Vajrasana or the Thunderbolt pose, improves digestion, gets rid of constipation, and fights stomach disorders, thus eliminating digestive disorders triggering hair fall. Its most beneficial to this asana after a meal. In fact the Japanese sit in this pose for their meals. Research has proven that the regular practice of this asana for at least 3 months results in lowering hair fall problems.
2. Sarvangasana or the Shoulder Stand Pose
Sarvangasana is one of the most beneficial pose of Yoga to enhance Hair Growth. Doing shoulder stand helps to divert blood flow to the head. This particular asana helps to nourish the thyroid gland. A unruly thyroid is one of the main reasons for hair issues such as thinning and premature baldness. Sarvangasana is also one of the healing exercises for neck pain.
3. Aadho Mukho Savasana or the Downward Dog Pose
This asana again increases the blood circulation to the head. If for any reason you are not able to do Sarvangasana, then Adho Mukho savasana is a good option. It’s benefits also include cure for insomnia, depression and mental fatigue. Lower stress levels again lead to healthy hair and skin plus overall well- being.
4. Uttanasana Yoga or the Standing Forward Bend
Known as Standing Forward Bend in English, Uttanasana Yoga heals and rejuvenates your body. In this asana, your head receives blood circulation as your head is below the heart. This posture provides oxygen to your hair cells and Uttanasana is a slightly demanding pose as it stretches your entire muscles and connective tissues. Hence, it is very important to do a warm up before doing this pose.
5. Apanasana or the wind release pose
This is one of the most functional of all the yoga poses to prevent hair loss. It is usually performed towards the end of the yoga practice of the day. Apana refers to the prana or energy of your digestive tract, that aids in purifying and eliminating toxins, which purifies the body and flushes out toxins from the system. It purifies the blood and improves the growth of hair by stimulating the hair follicles. It also relieves constipation thus improving the health of your gut. A clear gut is definitely a sign of good health and puts the pink in your cheeks.
6. Sasangasana or the Rabbit pose
This is a very beneficial yoga asana for hair growth, because in order to perform this asana you need to touch your crown to the ground, which helps the blood to flow to the head and also in stimulation of the thyroid gland. Proper blood circulation to the scalp means healthy and strong hair. Regular practice of this asana through multiple repetitions is bound to give good results.
7. Balayam Yoga (Rubbing Nails)
The process of rubbing your finger nails against each other repeatedly is known as Balayam yoga. It is one of the simplest and easiest ways to reduce hair fall. Practicing it daily for 5-10 minutes daily can reduce your hair problems. When you rub your fingernails, the nerve ending below it stimulates the brain to send a signal to revive dead and damaged hair follicles. The ancient science of Yoga kriya holds true in this era too. Balayam Yoga also helps stimulate the blood flow to your scalp reducing hair fall issues such as dandruff and premature greying.
To conclude let me emphasise on A Good Hair Care Regimen.
Yoga practice every day or Surya namaskara’s which incorporate 12 poses into one continuous action called salutation to the Sun God is a good addition to your daily routine. It’s perhaps the best exercise you can do in lockdown situation when the gym is closed. You only need a mat to practice. Dedicate half an hour to one hour to Yoga and see the difference in your overall wellness meter. It can only get better and better.
Another way to help grow healthy bouncy hair is to incorporate a hair care regimen after knowing your hair type. Knowing your hair type can help you find out your hair’s unique needs and pamper it regularly.
So here’s wishing all of you Happy International Yoga Day 2020 from all of us at Happie Hair, your friendly hair extensions studio in Mumbai Stay safe, stay healthy,…
Ciao
Vrinda