These yoga asanas will help you keep your liver healthy and strong

The liver is an important organ that keeps waste, toxins, and carcinogens away from the body. Yoga is a great way to detox and stimulate your liver through specific postures. Asanas like child’s pose and locust pose massage this vital organ bringing health and vitality to your system.

Yoga can be very helpful for those suffering from fatty liver disease. With yoga postures, you can stimulate, stretch, and strengthen the liver. They get rid of the fat deposits in the liver using them up as energy for the body.

In the meantime, breathing exercises known as pranayama can boost the health of your liver. If you suffer from conditions such as liver cirrhosis, jaundice, hepatitis and other diseases, practice kapalbhati pranayama, and anulom vilom regularly. Not only do they enhance liver health but also treat a variety of liver problems effectively.

Follow these following yogic techniques of asanas, pranayama and a special meditation routine to improve the functionality of the liver and the spleen:

1. Adomukhi svanasana (downward-facing dog)

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• Start on your fours, ensuring palms are under the shoulders and knees below hips.
• Lift the hips up, straighten the knees and elbows, and form an inverted ‘V’ shape.
• Now keep the hands shoulders width apart. Fingers point ahead.
• Put pressure on your palms and open your shoulder blades.
• Try to push your heels to the floor.
• Keep your eye focused on your big toes.
• Hold for eight to ten breaths.

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2. Shalabasana (locust pose)

• Lie down flat on your stomach with your palms placed under your thighs.
• Inhale completely, hold your breath, and then lift your legs up together.
• Ensure that your knees remain straight and feet are together.
• Place your chin or forehead on the ground.
• Hold the posture for 10 seconds, slowly bringing your legs down and then exhale breath.

3. Balasana (child’s pose)

• Kneel down on the mat and sit on your heels.
• Inhale and raise arms above the head.
• Exhale and bend your upper body forward.
• Place your forehead on the floor.
• Pelvis should rest on the heels.
• Ensure that your back is not hunched.

Here are some pranayama techniques you should practice for a healthy liver:

1. Anulom Vilom (alternate nostril breathing)

• Sit in a comfortable position of Sukhasana, Ardha Padmasana, Vajrasana or Poorna Padmasana.
• Keep your back straight, shoulders relaxed and close your eyes to focus on your breath.
• Place your palms on your knees facing upward (in Prapthi Mudra).

Technique:
Gently close your right nostril with your thumb, inhale into your left nostril and close it, letting the breath out through the right nostril. Then inhale through your right, closing it to exhale only through your left. This makes one cycle.

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2. Kapal Bhati
In Sanskrit, kapal means skull and bhati means shining/illuminating. Therefore, this kapalbhati pranayam is also known as skull shining breathing technique.

• Sit in any comfortable pose
• Straighten your back and close your eyes.
• Place your hands on your knees, palms facing up
• Inhale normally and focus on exhaling with a short, rhythmic, and forceful breath.
• You can use your stomach to forcefully expel all the air from the diaphragm and lungs by compressing it.
• Inhalation should happen automatically while you decompress your stomach.

Take care of your liver health by consuming foods that are high in fibre, choose to drink green tea over other beverages, and get an adequate amount of vitamin C. Ingredients such as turmeric, nuts and leafy green vegetables should be increased in your diet. With these steps, you can stay healthy and keep your liver functioning smoothly.