How to Practice Yoga for a Healthy Liver

Your liver filters toxins out of your body. It is located under the right side of your rib cage and shaped like a football. Deep breathing and twisting stimulate the liver, encouraging detoxification. Yoga poses like head to knee pose, half lord of the fishes pose, and Marichi's pose are three yoga positions that gently massage the liver. The poses can be done separately or strung together in a sequence. In vinyasa yoga, the student uses her breath to link positions together. Performing these poses can take as little as five minutes.

Things You'll Need

  • Exercise mat or large towel
  • Pillow
  • Strap (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1
      Begin this yoga sequence sitting comfortably with your legs crossed.

      Sit comfortably with your legs crossed and focus on your breath before you begin head to knee pose. If your hamstrings are tight, place a pillow under your hips. Inhale, lengthen your spine and fill your rib cage with air. Exhale and extend your left leg out. Inhale and reach your arms up toward the ceiling or sky. Exhale and bring your chest and belly forward, toward your hips. With each exhale, you focus on bringing your head closer to your knee. You will feel the stretch in your lower back and the back of your left leg. Stay in head to knee pose for several or many breaths. Visualise each inhale as a refreshing oxygen tonic.

    • 2
      Half lord of the fishes pose massages the liver.

      Inhale and curl your spine upright for half lord of the fishes pose. Keeping your left leg extended, bring your bent right foot to the outside of your left thigh. Inhale and extend your left arm upward. Exhale and, twisting your waist, bring the left elbow to the outside of your right thigh. Bend your left leg. Exhale to explore the deepness of your twist. Visualise toxins leaving your body with every exhale. Stay in half lord of the fishes pose as long as you like.

    • 3

      Release your left elbow from your right thigh and extend your left leg to prepare for Marichi's pose. Keeping your right knee bent upwards, bring your right foot to the inside of your left thigh. Inhale and extend your arms up. Exhale and bring your right shoulder down to the inside of your right shin. Reach back with your right hand, wrapping it around the outside of your right leg, and try to connect the left hand and right hand together behind the back. As you exhale, bring your shoulders and chest closer to your thighs. Spend as long as a minute in Mariachi's pose.

    • 4

      Bend your left leg and extend your right leg in front of you to repeat the vinyasa on the your right side. Head to knee pose will be over the right knee and half lord of the fishes will be twisting with the right elbow on the outside of the left side. Marichi's pose will be with the left knee bent on the inside of the right thigh. Stay in each pose for as long as you like.

    • 5

      Evaluate your body after going through the vinyasa, and decide whether you want to continue. You may want to repeat the sequence or spend time in an individual pose. Yoga is about listening to your body; with practice you become more sensitive to its needs.