Inverted yoga reverses the action of gravity on the body. The most profound changes brought about by inverted yoga is in circulation. In inverted poses, legs and abdomen are placed higher than the heart. Lengthen up through the legs and keep them very active so your spine opens and the entire body is actively involved in the pose. One of the reasons for this is simply because the force of gravity is reversed and the venous blood return becomes significantly greater. Normally, the muscles of the calf and other skeletal muscles in the lower extremities must contract in order to pump unoxygenated blood and waste back to the heart through the veins. In inverted poses, gravity causes the blood to flow easily back through the veins and this brings the blood pressure in the feet to a minimum. This in effect gives skeletal muscles a chance to rest. The drainage of blood and waste from the lower body back to the heart is increased and disorders such as varicose veins and swollen ankles are relieved.

Rhythmic breathing is really inhaling and exhaling at a paced level and has the power to nourish the body and calm the mind. If you’re like most people, you take shallow breaths, pull in your stomach when you inhale and never empty your lungs of carbon dioxide when you exhale. Long, slow breaths are more efficient than short, fast ones. To take in a good breath, your lungs must first be basically empty. Thus the key to efficient breathing lies in exhaling completely. A full exhalation begins with the upper chest, proceeds to the middle chest and finishes with tightening the abdominal muscles.