Instagram fitness buffs, have you tried your hand at Alien yoga yet? | Health - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Instagram fitness buffs, have you tried your hand at Alien yoga yet?

Agence France-Presse | By
May 30, 2017 02:25 PM IST

The latest fitness craze sweeping Instagram is Alien yoga or nauli, an exercise that involves contorting the stomach into a strange pose.

After heavy breathing sessions and booty videos, the latest fitness craze on Instagram is an exercise that has you contorting your stomach. Dubbed as “alien yoga” on Instagram because of how your stomach looks while doing the movement, the practice is traditionally known as “nauli”. It was apparently first mentioned around 500 years ago, and in some yoga traditions, was among one of the first exercises taught to new students. It is still fairly uncommon in Western yoga — though that might be changing.

A new form of exercise involves rolling abdominal muscles in a wave-like movement.(Shutterstock)
A new form of exercise involves rolling abdominal muscles in a wave-like movement.(Shutterstock)

But what exactly is nauli, and is it a fitness trend we should be following? According to nauli.org, nauli is a yogic cleansing exercise, or “kriya”, which cleanses the internal organs and strengthens the abdominal area. It involves rolling the abdominal muscles from side to side in a wave-like movement. It may look difficult, especially in some of the Instagram videos, but this movement can be practiced by most yogis and by any age group.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The nauli exercise comprises a series of four movements in total, and nauli.org says you must master uddiyana bandha before attempting the next three:

> Uddiyana bandha: An abdominal lock accomplished by emptying your lungs and pulling the abdomen in and up under the rib cage.

> Madhyana nauli (central nauli): The isolated contraction of the central abdominal muscles.

> Vama nauli (left side nauli): The isolated contraction of the left side of the abdominal muscles.

> Daksina nauli (right side nauli): The isolated contraction of the right side of the abdominal muscles.

The website cautions that nauli is considered an advanced practice, and recommends learning the technique from an experienced teacher.

A little organ cleansing on beat this morning 😂 #naulikriya #uddiyanabandha

A post shared by DANIELLE 🌻 ACOFF (@yellabella) on

Many advise that pregnant women, and those with hernias, hypertension, heart disease, ulcers, or various gastrointestinal ailments do not practice nauli. Even for a fit and healthy person, nauli should not be painful — it should always still be practiced with care and caution.

For those who would rather just follow this weird and wonderful fitness trend on social media, @aubrymarie, @yellabella and @kellygreenyoga are some of the yogis who have been demonstrating their nauli moves on Instagram and YouTube.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Get more updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times. Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive CoverageOscars 2024: on HT. click here

Get more updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times. Oscars 2024: Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs. Oscars 2024: Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On