Can yoga poses that twist and stretch your insides really help to detox your body? We ask the question now that yoga is becoming more 'kegstand' than 'handstand'.
Any attempt to find even the simplest of poses in a yoga class will underline the need for top-notch balance and a clarity of mind for even the most practiced of us. But partner yoga with the faculty hampering effects of beer and you end up with a position that is less Happy Baby and more stumbling fool. It might not be the way to reach the higher echelons of yoga achievement in the eyes of the purist but it signifies a real step into modernity for an ancient practice – and it sounds excellent fun.
It’s exactly this unexpected but overdue match-up that Berlin-based BierYoga has made so popular over the last year – “the marriage of two great loves…both of them centuries-old therapies for body, mind and soul.”
It injects new resolve into a burgeoning group of modern yogis that are taking their practice thoroughly into the 21st century and away from the traditional roots – and myths –of yoga. More specifically, its shows a departure from yoga as a form of abstinence and the vague promises of bodily detoxification that come with it.
A quick search shows that it runs the length of the yoga community: that the avid yogi is regularly flushing their body of toxicants through a surreal stimulation of the organs that make up your mushy bits. It only starts to sound odd once you think about it however. By the continued “massaging of your abdominal organs” your liver and kidneys are kick-started to rid your body of any unwanted toxins – a job they do quite well without any of your internal kneading.
The desired effects supposedly come about with Asanas (poses) from the twisty end of the yoga menagerie that stretch and contract your stomach and spine (see revolved triangle or revolved chair pose if you’re feeling brave). Imagine trying to squeeze out the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube and you’ve pretty much got the gist.
Unfortunately there is nothing wise about believing that Sage Pose will help spruce up your internal plumbing. With little scientific research supporting even the idea of detoxification itself, the notion that you can do just that by hitting the mat is shakier than your tree pose.
What you can expect from yoga is a very real boost in most areas of your health and fitness – just 8 weeks of regular practice is enough to reduce muscle pain, lessen fatigue and bolster your overall health, according to research from the University of Florida.
It’s not only your body where you can expect to feel better either. Research in the Journal of Behavioural Health has demonstrated that yoga, particularly in young adults, is an effective way to lessen anxiety and depressive symptoms, accredited to the elements of mindfulness necessarily included when practicing yoga.
The problems arise when such positives are falsely matched with a quasi-science of detox and internal cleansing. As yoga moves further and further into the mainstream and becomes a staple for most people’s workout routines it’s time to root the benefits in science rather than the promise of a downward dog detox.