San Francisco native Luna Toma, initially took up yoga to tone up and lose a few extra pounds. She quickly fell in love with the practice not only for the physical rewards but also because it brought her clarity and inner peace. Now, three years later, she is a certified Vinyasa Yoga teacher in NYC and has recently shot with Tara Stiles and Heidi Kristoffer for Reebok Yoga.

We’ve asked Luna to explain why doing yoga helps us feel and look younger.

“Yoga is one of the few physical activities you can improve upon as you age. I am now in my thirties and easily in the best shape of my life. It’s easy on the body and accessible to anyone. As we get older we lose flexibility, strength and balance. Our bodies and organs begin to sag.

Our blood naturally flows towards our feet being upright and moving all day. Any time you do a pose where your heart is above your head (i.e. all inversions and partial inversions, such as a forward fold), it helps the blood flow and circulate back to your face, hair and head. It also shifts your organs back to their original positions so they can work more effectively. Partial and full inversions have also been shown to reduce hair loss and gray hair. ”

5 Anti aging yoga poses

Downward facing dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

BENEFITS:

BENEFITS:

– Lowers blood pressure.

– Strengthens the spine and builds flexibility. The spine is one of the first affected by age.

– Relieves tension in the spine, neck, and back.

Supported shoulderstand (Salamba Sarvangasana)

Lie on your back. Place your arms alongside your torso. Walk your heels close to your sitting bones. Exhale. Press your arms against the floor and lift your body and legs up. Walk your fingers up your back to help create more lift. Hold for a minute and work your way up to 5-6 minutes.

BENEFITS:

– Improves circulation.

– Gets the thyroid gland (which controls your metabolism) working more efficiently.

– Improves varicose veins.

Plow (Halasana)

BENEFITS:

Bridge (Setu Bandhasana)

BENEFITS:

Luna’s favorite yoga equipment: