Mudras to help control your blood sugar level

Mudras are a combination of physical movements, attitudes or gestures that focus on changing the homeostasis (internal environment) of the body. Here are three mudras that will help improve the working of the endocrine system and the related glands in your body. They will also help you de-stress and calm you down.

Cautions: Those with backache or severe arthritis of the knee joints should not practice Exercise 1 and 2. Women who are menstruating and those who suffer from severe back and neck problems, hernia, high blood pressure or heart problems should avoid Exercise 3.

Exercise 1

• Sit in padmasana

• Take your hands behind your back and use one of the hands to hold the other wrist

• Close your eyes, relax your body and inhale

• Exhale as you bend forward and rest your forehead on the floor

• Hold the position for 10-30 seconds, breathing normally

• Inhale as you raise your body back to the starting position.

Exercise 2

• Sit back on your heels, knees together, toes overlapping, back straight and palms on the knees

• Inhale and slowly raise both your arms straight over your head

• Exhale and slowly bend your arms in front and place them in line with your ears.

• Rest your forehead on the floor and place your palms together

• Hold the position for 30 seconds, relax your body and breathe normally

• Inhale, slowly raise your arms and upper body, exhale and lower your arms to the starting position.

Exercise 3

• Lie on your back with your arms by your side

• Slowly raise your legs to 90 degree position

• Lift your hips and support them with your hands, as shown

• Hold the position for 10-30 seconds, breathing normally

• Slowly come back to the start position.