With time, a shift has been observed wherein consumers are becoming more and more inclined towards adopting a healthy lifestyle in every aspect of their life. Increased work pressure and constant stress has been taking a huge toll on people's mental and physical health. This is when the age-old practice of Yoga has proven to be beneficial as a good let-out or stress buster to cope with our hectic lifestyles.
While traditionally yoga has been a form of exercise that has been practiced outdoors, amidst the natural setting, a number of people are preferring to do it indoors, inside gyms or in their living rooms. With the rising air and vehicular pollution, it has become increasingly difficult to find a suitable place to practice yoga in the open. Infact, there is a growing trend of more and more citizens opting for indoor spaces as an escape from the outside pollution. Indoor yoga is an extremely recent phenomenon.
While people assume that they are safe and away from pollution within the confines of their homes, they are hugely mistaken. People are aware that outdoor air pollution is hazardous to the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of any person, however, there still remains a lack of awareness around indoor air quality and its repercussions. According to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the indoor air can be up to 10 times more polluted than the outside air. The fact remains that the air that we are breathing in every day could be gradually killing us.
Due to lack of open ventilation and an increased usage of chemical products in indoor studios and gyms, the level of indoor air pollutants often increase substantially. Moreover, our workout spaces are air conditioned and often packed with a lot of people, which only adds to the problem since it recirculates the same air, over and over again.
So, how do you escape the polluted indoor surrounding, while practicing Yoga? Here are some tips that you can suggest at your fitness studio or incorporate within your home, to get the maximum health benefit out of your workout.
* Use trickle ventilation: A trickle vent is a high window with extra filters which allows fresh air in and helps escort indoor pollutants out
* Reduce use of harmful cleaning sprays: Cleaning products that contain ammonia should be avoided as exposure to large amount of ammonia fumes pose an immediate danger to the lungs and skin. Liquid cleaners can be used instead of spray as they disperse fewer particles into the air
* Control moisture: Resort to ways that could help keep the humidity level low especially during the monsoon season. Nooks and corners in studios & homes where moisture collects easily should be regularly cleaned and dried, as they are breeding grounds for micro-biological creatures that could cause various respiratory or skin allergies
* Install air purifiers with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters: Installing an air purifier with a high efficiency particulate air filtration (HEPA) filter is another option for purifying the air. Air purifiers can trap small particles and pollutants such as molds, smoke, house dust and pet dander and also remove foul odor, thereby significantly improving indoor air quality and enhancing your mood
On this World Yoga Day, make the most of your workout by following these simple yet effective steps. Breathe Clean Air and Experience the difference!
Guest Author
The author is chief scientific officer- water purification technology at Eureka Forbes Limited
