Your endocrine system contains all the organs that produce your body's hormones, which have a range of functions, including controlling growth, bone strength, metabolism and sexual development, says MedlinePlus. A particularly common cause of decreased hormone production or inactivity is the aging process. However, certain yoga poses can help to stimulate your hormone-producing organs for improved functioning.
Menopause
Technically, the term menopause refers to a woman's last menstrual cycle; however, menopause is more commonly used to describe the changes that occur leading up to, during and after final menstruation, says the Patient UK website. During menopause, your ovaries produce less of the main female hormone, estrogen, which is responsible for sexual health, libido, reproduction and bone density. According to Yoga Journal, certain yoga poses -- for example, big toe pose -- can stimulate the ovaries and relieve conditions caused by reduced estrogen production.
Stand up straight, with your feet about six inches apart and the insides of your feet parallel. Take a deep breath in and, as you exhale, hinge forward from your hip joints, aiming to get your chest as close to your thighs as possible. Grab hold of your big toes with your index and middle fingers and gently pull yourself farther down. Then, inhale and lift your torso up slightly and exhale as you flatten it against your thighs again. Keep your torso and legs as straight as you can, and lift your sitting bones towards the ceiling.
Metabolism
As you age, the hormones that control your metabolism decrease as the thyroid gland that produces them becomes lumpy or nodular, says MedlinePlus. This gland is located in your neck, and yoga postures, such as plow pose, can help to stimulate it, says Yoga Journal.
Get into a supported shoulder stand by lying on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor, as close to your buttocks as possible. As you exhale, push your feet off the ground and peel your back off the floor. Raise your legs so they are straight up in the air, and support your back by placing your hands just above your hip bones. From this position, assume plow pose by exhaling and bending from your hips to bring your legs over your head until your toes touch the floor. Try to keep your back straight and at right angles to the floor, and your legs as straight as possible. Keep your hands on your back for support if you need to -- otherwise, straighten your arms along the floor behind your back and clasp your hands together. Hold this pose for up to five minutes, then breathe out to lift up to shoulder stand and roll back down to the floor.
Growth
Your pituitary gland controls all other glands in your endocrine system and is responsible for the production of growth hormone, which also decreases with age, says MedlinePlus. One yoga pose that stimulates the pituitary, as well as your thyroid gland is the wheel, says the Yoga Journal. It can also be used as therapy for osteoporosis and infertility, both of which can be caused by hormonal inactivity.
Lie on the floor with your knees bent and your feet as close to your buttocks as possible. Reach your hands behind your head so that your elbows are pointing up in the air and your hands are beside your ears, fingers pointing toward your shoulders. As you exhale, push off the floor with your legs and arms, Rest gently on the crown of the head, if you need to, before pushing into full wheel. Keep your pubic bones lifted toward the ceiling and your thigh muscles engaged, and relax your head so you're either looking at the floor or directly behind you. Hold the pose for 10 seconds, and then slowly relax back down to the floor.
Testosterone
This is the main male sex hormone, and lowered rates of production in men can cause delayed puberty and infertility, says MedlinePlus. Warrior II pose is particularly good for stretching and stimulating the groin area and is believed to have therapeutic benefits for infertility, says Yoga Journal.
Start by standing up straight then step or jump so your feet are about four feet apart. Raise your arms to shoulder height and actively stretch them out to your sides. Turn your right foot out so it's pointing in the same direction as your right arm and turn your left foot in half as much. As you exhale, bend your right knee so that your knee is in line with your ankle, your shin bone is perpendicular to the floor and, if possible, your right thigh is parallel to the floor. Make sure your torso stays upright and your arms stay at shoulder height and are actively stretched. Look in the direction of your right arm. Hold the pose for up to a minute. Relax and repeat on the other leg.
