In the race to get six-pack abs and a perfectly toned body, we often forget the importance of cleansing the body from within. Mundane pleasures like smelling the grass and soaking up the rays of the sun, helps us stay close to the natural elements and achieve the right state of mental balance and emotional cleansing. Which is why fitness trainers are now focusing on exercises that target the holistic cleansing of the system.
Tai chi
Spiritual balance is an important component of any martial arts form. Martial arts expert and celebrity fitness trainer Harshal Mehta says, “We begin tai chi by breathing in deeply and taking energy from the earth and air to cleanse the entire system.”
This practice not only helps to improve the respiratory muscle functions, but also helps the lungs remove toxins.
He explains, “The blood flow is guided by the chi (energy). The tai chi movements guide the energy so that more oxygen enters the blood. Because of the continuous slow motion, fresh blood cleans, repairs and nourishes every part of the body. Also, the waist-turning movements of this martial art increases the flow of blood and urine through the kidneys and the tai chi breathing method delivers more oxygen and removes larger quantities of carbon dioxide.”
Krav maga
“The Israeli military combat regimen krav maga follows the Zen philosophical quest where the practitioner of krav maga is so engrossed in his performances that it’s only him and the combat. The concentration is so strong that it turns off the analytical mind for a few minutes, pumping in a fresh stream of blood, thus cleansing the central nervous system,” says Vicky Kapoor, a krav maga expert.
Yoga
People perform yoga but often forget kriya, which is a vital cleansing routine. Yogic kriyas like jal neti, sutra neti, vamankriya and shankhaprakshalan help in removing the toxins and wastes from the body.
“In jal neti, water is poured through one nostril and taken out from the other nostril. It is done using a special kind of neti pot. This helps cure sinus infection and allergies. Similarly, sutra neti, which is performed using a cotton thread, helps stimulate the nerves and is good for eyes, ears and nose,” explains Payal Gidwani, a celebrity yoga expert, who asserts that yogic kriyas have to be done under the guidance of an experienced trainer.
To improve the digestive system shankhaprakshalan is very efficient. “It is effective for those who have a troubled stomach. It is comparatively difficult and needs days of practice to master it. However, vamankriya is a simpler way of cleansing the throat and the chest, where salt water mixed in warm water is used for removing the mucus lining from the body,” she explains.