Excessive consumption of added sugar can be detrimental to your health.
The addition of sugar to sodas, sweets and other processed foods has been shown to contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and caries. But do you know where and how much sugar you consume daily and how to stop it?

Research shows that most Americans eat 55-92 grams of “extra” sugar a day, which equates to 13-22 teaspoons of sugar each day – accounting for about 12-16% of their daily calorie intake.
A much higher percentage than nutritionists who recommend consuming less than 10% of our daily calories from added sugars.
The World Health Organization goes one step further, recommending less than 5% of calories from added sugar for optimal health.

However, reducing the added sugars in your diet can be very difficult.

Here are 13 simple ways to do it!

1. Limit sugary drinks

Most of the added sugars we consume come from sugary drinks – soft drinks, energy drinks, sweet teas and more.
In addition, drinks that many people consider healthy, such as smoothies and fruit juices, can contain staggering amounts of added sugar.
For example, 1 cup (271 grams) of cranberry juice cocktail contains more than 7 teaspoons of sugar (31 grams).
In addition, your body does not recognize the calories from drinks in the same way as it does from food. The calories from the drinks are absorbed quickly, resulting in a rapid rise in your blood sugar level.
Drinks also do not make you feel as full as solid foods, so people who consume a lot of calories from drinks end up eating more.
Reducing the intake of sugary drinks can help both in weight loss and in improving overall health.

Here are some healthier drinks that are naturally low in sugar:

• water
• unsweetened carbonated water
• herbal tea
• black or green tea
• coffee
• herbal tea to curb sugar cravings

2. Avoid sweets with sugar

Most desserts do not offer much nutritional value. They are full of sugar, which causes a sudden rise in blood sugar and can make you feel tired and hungry as well as lead you to constantly look for more sugar.
Cereal and dairy-based desserts, such as cakes, pies, doughnuts and ice cream, account for more than 18% of the added sugar intake in the diet.
So try the following alternatives instead:
• fresh fruits
• yoghurt with cinnamon or fruit
• baked fruit with cream
• dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher)

And remember! Replacing sweets with fresh or baked fruit not only reduces your sugar intake but also increases the fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in your diet.

3. Avoid sauces with added sugar

Sauces such as ketchup, barbecue sauce, ready-made spaghetti sauce and sweet chilli sauce are very common in most kitchens. However, most people are not aware of their sugar content.
One tablespoon (17 grams) of ketchup contains about 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of sugar.
Look for “no added sugar” spices and sauces to reduce the hidden sugars in these products.
Other options for seasoning your food naturally low in added sugar are herbs and spices, chilli, mustard, vinegar, pesto, mayonnaise and lemon or lime juice.

4. Eat foods with normal and not low fat

Varieties of your favourite low-fat foods are everywhere.
If you’ve been told that fat is bad, it’s natural to look for these alternatives rather than full/normal fat/beverage foods — especially when trying to lose weight.
However, the worrying truth is that these foods usually contain more sugar and sometimes more calories than their full-fat counterparts.
For example, a serving of low-fat (170 grams) vanilla contains 24 grams of sugar and 144 calories.
The same amount of plain yoghurt full of fat contains only 8 grams of milk sugar and 104 calories.
High sugar intake has also been shown to cause weight gain, which negates the fact that you may have chosen low-fat foods that ultimately have more sugar.
When trying to reduce your sugar intake, it is often best to choose foods that are high in fat. Just be sure to read the list of ingredients to make the best choice.

5. Eat fresh or organic food

Fresh food has not been processed. They are also without additives and other artificial substances.
Such foods are fruits, legumes, whole grains, vegetables and non-frozen meat.
Processed or prepared foods contain salt, sugar, fat and additives to such an extent that they taste great – something that makes it difficult to moderate your intake of these foods.
Examples of highly processed foods are soft drinks, sweets, cereals, chips and ready-made/fast food.
Nearly 90% of the sugars added to the average American diet come from over-processed foods, while only 8.7% come from homemade foods using fresh raw materials.
Try to cook yourself when possible to avoid added sugars. You do not need to cook elaborate meals. Simple foods such as marinated meats, grilled vegetables and salads will give you great results.

6. Eat fresh or organic food

Canned foods can be a useful and inexpensive option in your diet, but they can also contain a lot of added sugar.
Fruits and vegetables contain natural sugars and do not affect your blood sugar in the same way that added sugar does.
Prefer them!

7. Be careful with “healthy” processed snacks

Some processed snacks have a “health halo”. They look healthy at first glance and words like “healthy” or “natural” can be used in their marketing to make them look more attractive than they really are.
Surprisingly, these snacks (such as granola bars, protein bars and dried fruit) can contain just as much sugar like chocolate and candies.
Dried fruits are a great example. They are full of fiber, nutrients and antioxidants. However, they also contain concentrated amounts of natural sugar (and some versions can be “sugared” with added sugar), so you should moderate their intake so as not to overdo it.
Here are some healthy ideas for low-sugar snacks:
• nuts and seeds
• boiled eggs
•fresh fruits

8. Limit cereals with sugar

Some breakfast cereals contain a lot of added sugar. A study found that some of the most popular brands of cereals contain more than half their weight in added sugar.
In addition, the same research found that granola, which is commonly marketed as a healthy food, has more sugar than any other cereal, on average.
Popular breakfast foods – such as pancakes, waffles, muffins and jams – are also loaded with added sugar.

So leave these sugary mornings for special occasions and try the following low-sugar mornings:

• oatmeal or oats with fresh fruit
• yogurt with fruit, honey and nuts
• omelette with cheese and vegetables
• avocado in wholemeal toast

Choosing low-sugar, high-protein, high-fiber foods for breakfast will also help you feel full by noon, avoiding unnecessary snacks.

9. Read the labels

Eating less sugar is not as easy as avoiding sugary foods. We have already said that it can be hidden in incredible foods such as ketchup and granola.
Fortunately, food manufacturers are now being asked to list added sugars on food labels. You will see the added sugars listed below the total carbohydrates in the foods that contain them.
Alternatively, you can check the list of ingredients for sugar. The higher the sugar in the list of ingredients, the more sugar the product contains, as the ingredients are listed from the highest amount to the lowest amount used by weight.
However, there are more than 50 names for adding sugar to food labels, which makes them more difficult to identify. Here are some of the most common:
• fructose from corn syrup
• cane sugar or cane juice
• maltose
• dextrose
• invert sugar or sugar syrup
• rice syrup
• molasses
• candy

10. Try to eat more protein

High sugar intake has been linked to increased appetite and weight gain. In contrast, a diet low in sugar but high in protein and fiber can have the opposite effect, reducing hunger and promoting a feeling of fullness.
Protein has also been shown to directly reduce the urge to eat. One study found that increasing protein in the diet by 25% reduced the desire to consume sugar by 60%.
To quench your sugar cravings, eat protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs, high-fat dairy products, avocados and nuts.

11. Avoid natural zero-calorie sweetenersre protein

There are many artificial sweeteners on the market that are completely free of sugar and calories, such as sucralose and aspartame.
However, these artificial sweeteners can be linked to intestinal bacteria imbalances that can lead to poorer blood sugar control, increased appetite and weight gain. For this reason, it may be best to avoid artificial sweeteners.
Some other zero-calorie natural sweeteners such as stevia look promising, as they are naturally derived, although they undergo some processing before they reach your plate.

12. Limit high-sugar foods in your homero-calorie sweetenersre protein

When you have foods high in sugar at home, you are more likely to consume them. It takes tremendous willpower to stop yourself when it has decided to reach up to the cupboard or fridge to get a dessert.
However, if you live with others, this can be difficult. Studies have shown that our preoccupation with something else at the moment, such as making a puzzle, taking a yoga class on youtube, or going out for a walk, can be very effective in reducing the consumption of such foods.
If that doesn’t work, then try keeping some healthy low-sugar snacks at home for distraction !.

13. Get enough sleep

Good sleeping habits are incredibly important to your health. Poor sleep has been linked to depression, poor concentration, decreased immune function and obesity.
However, lack of sleep can also affect the types of food you eat, predisposing you to choices that are higher in sugar, fat, salt and calories.
Another study found that people who went to bed late and did not sleep through the night consumed more calories, fast food and soft drinks and correspondingly far fewer fruits and vegetables than those who went to bed early and had a good night’s sleep.

In addition, a recent observational study noted that a higher intake of added sugar was associated with an increased risk of insomnia in postmenopausal women.
If you are trying to stop making high-sugar food choices, better sleep can help.

Admittedly, our average life expectancy is clearly higher than in the past…
But as time goes on, health problems increase, we become more prone to diseases associated with aging and therefore, we tend to move less. And the less we move, the more prone we become to a variety of ailments. And so, we finally get into a really vicious circle.

What we often hear is that as we get older we need to be careful, move less and exercise less. Commonly what they call our chamomile or linden and on the couch for TV. This, however, is the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

A sedentary lifestyle inevitably leads to muscle shortening, tightening and weakening of the muscles. Lack of movement and stretching contributes to wear and tear and loss of elasticity, while without muscle strengthening exercises osteoporosis becomes hoarse.
Arthritis, increased body fat, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, decreased joint elasticity, back pain, difficulty breathing and sleeping, stress is some of the symptoms due to lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle.
And all this leads to a very common and serious phenomenon that concerns the older age groups… The imbalance. Which is a result of the reduced activity but also of the insecurity that it causes.
How can we keep our balance upright when we choose to sit for most of the day?

The solution is simple and easy … We continue our life normally … We do not stop our activities because time passes. It does not matter how many years we have on our back, but how well maintained our back is to carry them… That is why we include exercise in our daily lives. And one of the best exercises recommended by doctors for middle age – and not only – is yoga. Which is said – and I confirm it to you from personal experience – that it comes to slow down, or even reverse the aging process.

So choose a well-informed yoga teacher, consult your doctor and start exercising!

Irene Damanaki

Yoga Educator

In the case of scoliosis, where the spine is strongly curved to the right or left, the main cause is the wrong posture of the people in the chairs, with the typical example of the students during the school years. It is a developmental disorder that causes the deformity, rotation and lateral tilt of the vertebrae resulting in the spine taking the shape of S or C. The term comes from the ancient Greek word scolios which means crooked, (not straight, not straight).

In all forms of scoliosis, the most important step is to make an early diagnosis and then to carry out in collaboration with a doctor and physiotherapist, a rehabilitation plan and therapeutic exercise program, as well as to be understood by the patient any spinal deformity, to is the master of his treatment.

Therapeutic exercise is an integral part of stabilizing and reducing the extent of scoliosis as well as relieving the symptoms created by it.

One of the best forms of exercise to improve the flexibility & elasticity of the individual by stretching the concave side of scoliosis and at the same time increasing the muscular strength of the trunk and all muscles is YOGA.
According to a study recently published in the Global Advances in Health and Medicine, people with scoliosis who practised a yoga pose for 1-2 minutes a day for several days a week, reduced the curvature of their spine by about 32%.
Through the Asanas (poses) of Yoga and the breathing exercises, which of course should always be done under the supervision and guidance of the physiotherapist and the experienced yoga teacher, the improvement in the posture of the spine is felt in a short time.

Indicatively, we mention exercises (asanas) of stretching but also strengthening.

Virabhadrasana 1 – Warrior 1
Fully responsive to its name, Warrior 1 pose encourages us and makes us feel strong while inspiring grace and strength. It strengthens our waist and back while exercising our legs.

Trikonasana – Triangle Pose
Trikonasana lengthens and stretches the spine, and strengthens our mental and physical balance. Reduces stress and back pain by helping them to relax.

Marjaryasana – Cat Pose
The cat’s posture improves the elasticity of the spine, blood circulation and relaxes/relaxes our mind. One of the best poses not only for scoliosis.

Other poses (asanas) that can be practised to treat and improve scoliosis are Pachimotanasana – Seated Forward Bend, Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward Facing Dog, Balasana – Child’s Pose and several more asanas.

The general rule is that they should be done with the guidance, slowly, understandably and with proper breathing. Breathing exercises play a very important role in recovery – Pranayama as they reduce the respiratory work and strengthen the respiratory muscles of the trunk.

Irene Damanaki

Yoga Educator

Birthlight Yoga for pregnant women is a form of yoga accessible to all women, whether they are professionals or young in the field. It uses an innovative system adapting classical yoga from pre-conception to the postpartum period, innovating both with the use of micro-movements and with yoga flow sequences.

In the mood for care, relaxation and connection with ourselves and our baby, Birthlight departments offer support to the woman during pregnancy, which is often lacking even in maternity services.

Yoga is increasingly recommended for pregnant women because it is a gentle way to maintain or improve fitness while reducing stress through breathing and relaxation techniques.

Birthlight Yoga is the first in the line of selecting and adapting yoga practices that are safer and more suitable for pregnant women. Hip rotations, movement sequences and the birthright practice, in general, have been developed to avoid pressure and improve the general condition of the body. Yoga breathing techniques have been selected and adapted to enhance a woman’s ability to breathe in gentle and effective ways that promote physical and emotional well-being. Finally, instead of focusing only on strengthening the pelvis, Birthlight improves its elasticity and stability which is the best basis for childbirth and of course for the postpartum period.

Birthlight’s approach is holistic: we believe in addressing the needs of every woman and baby, through support that concerns not only the pregnant woman, the family but also all those who have a direct relationship with her.
We share the view that normal childbirth is desired by the majority of women, but every woman’s choices are deeply respected. The positive, energetic but also relaxed atmosphere of the Birthlight classes aims to convey a common sense of celebration and enjoyment of this very special moment of transformation and development. All babies deserve a warm and affectionate welcome in this world! And their mom paid due attention…
Birthlight has been recognized by the British Council for Yoga Therapy (BCYT) and the Federation of Prenatal Teachers (FEDANT).
And our name refers both to the “light” birth, without excessive pressure but also to the approach of its spiritual dimension, which is often neglected.

Irene Damanaki

Yoga Educator

The extraordinarily fast pace of our lives, the growing problems and the stress that has become a constant companion in our daily lives, lead an increasing percentage of adults to sleep disorders, which unfortunately very often become chronic.
Many ways are suggested to combat them. What many do not know, however, is that according to research we can still have a strong ally against insomnia. Yoga …

Regular practice in yoga improves the duration and quality of sleep and consequently our overall mood and vitality.
According to studies, people who suffer from insomnia sleep 15 minutes faster and one hour more every night, after two months of a 45-minute yoga workout daily before bedtime. Researchers believe that yoga helps people relax, making it easier for them to sleep.
But let’s see why ..

Yoga is an ancient science, now recognized by modern western medicine. ‘It has a number of practices that help man come to an awareness of his true nature. These practices are exercises or postures (asanas), breathing (pranayama), meditation, the study of ancient theories, application of the principles of yoga and self-observation in everyday life.
Practising yoga reduces stress, improves our concentration and memory, fights depression, learns to manage our anger and enjoys a general sense of joy and well-being.
We enjoy many physical benefits such as, an increase in musculoskeletal agility, improved posture of our body, relief from various pains in the waist, neck, etc., improving heart function, strengthening our immune system, etc.
Through the practice of yoga, in addition to the physical benefits, people manage to feel joy, freedom and love. Most people turn to yoga to deal with specific problems – such as stress, depression, pain, respiratory problems, digestive or nervous system problems, insomnia, panic attacks.
Another important benefit that yoga offers us is Pranayama – breathing techniques …
As we get older, we, unfortunately, turn to a kind of inefficient breathing.
We tend to breathe shallowly, only from the chest, using to the minimum the capabilities of our lungs.
The daily stress at work, the obligations or the pressures that we face, lead to shallow and fast breathing, therefore to insufficient oxygenation, which in turn leads to various evolutionary complications, among which is the problematic sleep.
With yoga breathing techniques, we increase the width of our lungs while, gradually receiving more oxygen, we learn to breathe slowly, with depth and awareness. Proper and controlled breathing that we develop, helps us reduce toxins, feel better, relax and eliminate stress.
Characteristics as stated in Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the first yoga manual: “When the breath wanders, the mind is unstable, but when the breath is stable, the mind is also stable”.

We conclude that, at the end of the day, falling into bed after practising yoga, we have many more reasons that can lead us to a pleasant sleep, instead of the problems, stress and unpleasant feeling that cause us insomnia…
It will probably take months or so to achieve this and certainly strong will, because insomnia is one of the reasons we give up practising yoga and exercise in general, usually due to fatigue, but in the end, we gain more and better sleep.

So the next time you do not fall asleep, do not count lambs … Measure your breath…

Irene Damanaki

Yoga Educator

Yoga can greatly help the child to calm down, concentrate and gain confidence. He ceases to be vulnerable and uncertain about his abilities, self-disciplines and faces the problems presented to him more easily.

Yoga is not just about breathing, movement, exercise and meditation.
It is a way of life… It is a way of accepting and managing our body and ourselves. Internal and external.
In order to achieve the coveted peace and relaxation that we all desire, we must release all that trapped and usually negative energy that accumulates within us due to the stressful daily life we ​​experience.

Yoga is a dynamic technique that helps the child move his body in such a way that he feels beautiful.
Exercises the spine, which at a young age is vulnerable to scoliosis, lordosis and kyphosis.
Helps children with asthma, as it dilates the breath and stimulates the chest muscles.

It makes the body more resilient and increases flexibility, thus reducing the risk of accidents (fractures, sprains, fractures).
It is ideal for childhood obesity because it balances the function of the glands and digestion.

Helps to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, stimulating and stimulating the nervous system and improving concentration, with special simple meditation exercises.
It helps a lot in dealing with stress by learning to breathe properly again as when they are born and to face without crazy tensions the demanding rhythms of their daily life.
It coordinates breathing with movement and calms his nervous system.
It helps a lot in concentration. Many people think that the child can not concentrate. This is wrong. The child concentrates, but not for long. Through yoga he learns to direct his thinking to a specific thing and so, almost unconsciously, he slowly learns to concentrate.

Boosts self-confidence.
Yoga is not a competitive activity, like sports that require you to surpass yourself and especially the other. Yoga wants to release the body and its energy with gentle techniques that learn self-discipline without suppressing records. For children, this is extremely good, as it teaches them to dominate their body without being compared to others. This success makes them feel self-esteem, respect for themselves and others.

What is a child yoga class like?
It’s basically fun. The children represent the dog, the cat, the eagle, the dove, the crow and a host of other animals and birds. They roar like cows, they meow like cats, they fly like birds. They laugh and sweat without being pressured. The exercises can be accompanied by songs and some dances that increase the children’s interest in what they are doing. Along with yoga postures, children do simple breathing exercises. Exhalations and inhalations may be accompanied by sounds that calm and relax children. Breathing exercises increase the range of breath and stimulate the alveoli of the lungs. In concentration exercises children concentrate on things, toys, body parts or situations defined by the teacher and through the short silence they are slowly trained to concentrate, to be silent and to listen.

Being a mother of 2 teens, a yoga educator and a teacher, there are countless benefits that yoga could count that yoga can offer our children. But I will be unimaginably happy to see it in the classroom…

Irene Damanaki

Yoga Educator

Many times, the questions I hear when a man is interested in starting yoga are: But it is not only for women; And for flexible? And what is the point of tying a knot? Say I want something more dynamic…

Of course, this is not the case at all. Yoga is addressed to all of us. And of course in men. Let’s not forget that it started in India about 5000 years ago and initially, it was aimed only at men.
According to official studies, we can now confidently say that regular yoga practice, regulates heart and blood pressure, increases our endurance and strength, improves our flexibility, reduces stress and fights depression and insomnia . At the same time it improves self-concentration and mental clarity, fights negative thoughts, enhances self-control, concentration and self-confidence and helps us to know and love our body and explore its potential.
In the practice of yoga, we activate each of our muscles, ligaments and organs, compared to other types of exercise such as football, which activate 10-15%. In contrast to other types of exercise that make us tired and feel energized, yoga invigorates us and leaves us with a sense of well-being στην Helps in weight loss and a healthier lifestyle, can improve performance in other workouts and protects against injuries. And let’s not forget that yoga can increase libido and improve sexual performance!
The benefits of yoga for men are not only measured in “volume” or surface strength, which is real and obvious, but also in physical and mental strength that has depth and duration.
So the next time you think that yoga is a woman’s affair, review it..and try it.

Irene Damanaki

Yoga Educator

Take a look at social media (facebook, instagram, twitter etc). I have the impression that we are going through the period with the most selfies of abdominal… and fit bodies…. In times of crisis, where we all face very difficult days, with the stress of a permanent partner and junk food in larger doses “because poverty wants a good time”, the tendency to return to a healthier lifestyle combined with exercise, is growing rapidly. . The fact that many new and different forms of sport have emerged dynamically – turning classic gymnasiums with instruments and treadmills into a “monument” of the past – now make exercise more and more accessible to every age group.

This time I stood at Cross Fit. A form of exercise that has made the big bang in the last 5 years. And if anything can be considered explosive… yes .. this is Crossfit. .. Sport or just a new training system ??? Many people called it men’s gymnastics. Crossfit contains Olympic weightlifting, gymnastics, weight lifting, athletics, rowing and many other multi-joint exercises, which are usually combined in a “random” way and performed with a key competitor in the time or number of repetitions. And his fans are fanatics… and growing ..
As a yogi and with the philosophy that everything in yoga should be done slowly, safely, aware of our body and of course enjoying as much as possible the journey and learning during our evolutionary course, to have a competitor time with went back… somewhere there in high school and university exams… Lots of stress for no reason… You will tell me a little adrenaline is not bad! Views! Respected all!

So I attended several crossfit classes… and although yoga & crossfit have many and even substantial differences, I quickly realized that the practice of yoga can help, evolve and eventually become the stepping stone that will help crossfit athletes “climb level ”.
Many Cross Fitters wonder why they should do yoga when they can simply add some stretching before and after WOD’s. But Yoga is not just stretching!
By choosing the right program (something I have already implemented) the strength of the athletes but mainly their endurance to fatigue increases (believe me I have seen many times, people who lift 120 & 180 kg to stop the program to rest because they “burned” their shoulders). Their flexibility improves immediately and continuously so that they can perform the exercises more efficiently and with less fatigue. This is because the elasticity gained by the muscles and tendons drastically reduces the “stress” they receive in the maximum trajectories of the exercises. The recovery of the muscles becomes faster, the concentration of the athletes is much better while their breathing becomes more correct and with a greater range ..

Result; Better overall image and performance ..

Cross Fit athletes in the US and especially in the West Coast have long not only “matched” Cross Fit with Yoga but in fact consider it a necessary combination in gyms in California, LA, San Francisco, Nevada and beyond. . To be honest, even after my own approach, I found it difficult to disagree with their point of view. Although I believe that both techniques are much more complex than is usually considered, I am now convinced that the cross fitter who seeks the maximum results from himself and his training, should try yoga. Why, for Cross Fit athletes, incorporating yoga into their practice gives the perfect YIN to their high-intensity YANG…
In every WOD (workout of the day) of Cross Fit the goal is to complete the program using and constantly increasing your strength with exercises that very often “take your breath away”. And time runs… ..Power, concentration and speed.
In each Yoga class you “find your breath again”, you help your body to “come back” after a very strenuous workout and your muscles to relax and prepare for the next time. Time does not matter. Strength, concentration combined with intense stretching, flexibility but also mental and physical relaxation.
The strength of our core, the correct posture of the torso, the spine and the balance are elements of both Cross Fit and the practice of YOGA that have the main advantage of minimizing injuries.

In fact, balance is one of the 10 basic qualities that are particularly emphasized in the definition of CROSS FIT by Greg Glassman… and yoga is the absolute synonym of balance. Internal and external, which at the same time brings you fully aware of your body and its capabilities.
In Crossfit the exercises are done so fast, – we said the clock is running – that most of the time the correct technique and posture of the body is lost in the vortex of speed. Practicing yoga we have time to focus on the muscle group that works every time, to breathe through different parts of our body, to understand what and how we do it and finally to do it better

More and more Crossfit Boxes in America are providing yoga classes to their students. And the results are obvious and immediate. They have already been recorded and are accepted by both sides. Two different mentalities – Yoga & Cross Fit that finally come to complement each other.
There are many articles that have been published as well as the reasons that suggest or even “force” Cross Fit athletes to do Yoga. Flexibility and stretching, strength, breathing and relaxation techniques, understanding and consciousness of our body, correct posture, concentration, balance… And above all loss of competition. There is no competition in yoga. We do not need him. We leave him for WOD’s later and invest in the “relationship” between YOGA & CROSSFIT which is evolving rapidly.
The first result… YOGIWOD in San Francisco. I found it amazing.

And I’m sure all cross fitters who do yoga will understand me.

Irene Damanaki

Yoga Educator

Judging by the developments around us, I would say that we live in “upside down” times. Lately, in fact, we are more and more faced with situations that “raise the blood in our heads”.
So how would you feel if someone told you that the way to download it is so simple that it does not even cross your mind? As simple as an “upside down” attitude. That is, putting your head down and your feet up.

Upside down postures, which are widely used in yoga, aerial yoga and more, have multiple benefits.
They decompress the vertebrae, relax the heart which does not have to try to bring the blood from the bottom up, oxygenate the brain, nourish the cells and help cleanse the blood. They improve our digestive function and mood by regulating the hormonal system. They help us overcome many of our fears and gain more confidence, reduce toxins and increase sexual desire.
They deal with stress and pressure immediately and effectively and help to “get the blood out of the head”.
At the same time they strengthen our arms, shoulders and torso, while many studies have shown that people who regularly do such postures rarely get a stroke, which occurs when there is an obstacle to the flow of blood to the brain, or when they lift us The blood in the head is constantly used. Upside down postures, which are widely used in yoga, aerial yoga and more, have multiple benefits.
They decompress the vertebrae, relax the heart which does not have to try to bring the blood from the bottom up, oxygenate the brain, nourish the cells and help cleanse the blood. They improve our digestive function and mood by regulating the hormonal system. They help us overcome many of our fears and gain more confidence, reduce toxins and increase sexual desire.
They deal with stress and pressure immediately and effectively and help to “get the blood out of the head”.
At the same time they strengthen our arms, shoulders and torso, while many studies have shown that people who regularly do such postures rarely get a stroke, which occurs when there is an obstacle to the flow of blood to the brain, or when they lift us constantly blood on the head.

Finally, they have anti-aging properties, as while standing upside down, a large amount of blood is directed to the head and face, along with the oxygen and nutrients it contains. Thus, the skin acquires health and radiance, while even the hair may take longer to turn white!
So let’s not think too much. Bring them up and down and forget the upside down times.

Note
Upside down postures are contraindicated in people with health problems, hypertension or glaucoma, in pregnant women, as well as in people who have recently undergone surgery.

Irene Damanaki

Yoga Educator