The Online Home Of
Yoga
www.yogasuppliesonline.com
How Can Yoga Boost Your Immunity?
Stuffy nose. Sore throat. Asthma. Everyday our bodies are forced to battle the nasty germs, viruses, and bacteria that trigger a range of illnesses. And even though the body has its own natural defense system, our on-the-go lifestyles do little to help this system work properly. From fast-food diets and high anxiety to alcohol and smoking, the choices we make each day bombard the immune system, making it harder for it to work the way nature intended.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Yoga, the ancient Indian practice with roots in Hindu philosophy, can give the immune system the boost it needs to work like a well-oiled machine. Here are just a few of the ways regular yoga practice can bolster our natural defenses:
Yoga drains mucus
Okay, admittedly it might not be the most pleasant thought, but the fact is that certain yoga poses, such as downward-facing dog and other inverted postures, are perfect for draining mucus from the sinus passages. Not only does that make these poses great for clearing out the head when you have a cold, it also makes them the natural way to rid the body of allergens. Whether it’s pollen, dust, or Fido fur, when the irritating substances are expelled in the mucus, they can no longer trigger allergic reactions—and the unpleasant symptoms that come with them.
Yoga increases oxygen levels
Any preschooler can tell you that breathing is essential for life—yet why is it that so many of us do it so poorly? As we move through the day, the stress, strain, and general chaos of life prompts us to take short, shallow breaths that rob the body of the oxygen it so desperately needs to function. In fact, some research suggests that oxygen deficiency is linked to the development of cancer cells.
Deep breathing, just like the kind that happens during yoga sessions, teaches us to slow down respiration, allowing the body to take in the higher levels of oxygen that boost the immune system.
Yoga reduces stress
Yoga lowers the level of the stress hormone cortisol, which is notorious for weakening the body’s natural defenses. Cortisol is especially harmful when the body is exposed to it constantly, such as when you’re caring for a terminally ill parent or balancing the pressures of marriage, kids, and work. Chronic cortisol levels have been linked to everything from Type II diabetes to high blood pressure.
Like any exercise, yoga decreases stress levels, but it’s yogic deep breathing techniques that help create the deep relaxation that has been proven to reduce the harmful cortisol levels that leave you vulnerable to illness.
Yoga increases circulation
How does circulation help boost immunities? White blood cells—your body’s natural army—meets invaders by traveling through the blood stream. Good circulation allows that army to get where it needs to be quickly and efficiently. A healthy circulatory system also sends much-needed oxygen throughout the body.
Regular yoga practice is known to improve immunity-boosting circulation. Inverted poses, such as the shoulder stand, are especially effective at boosting the blood flow. Standing bow and half-tortoise are additional circulation boosters that will make the immune system stronger.
Yoga poses are designed to help the body heal itself
While the exercise and meditation of any yoga practice helps boost immunity, there are certain postures that are designed specifically to bolster the body’s natural defense system. For instance, tortoise posture is aimed at stimulating the thymus gland, which is a key producer of antibodies. Wheel posture is another technique that stimulates the pituitary as well as the thyroid glands, both of which play key roles in overall health and wellness.
Other poses designed to boost immunity include boat, fish, pigeon, and bridge pose, which all open the chest and stimulate the immune system. Twisting poses, like prayer twist and seated angle, play a role in boosting natural defenses, too. They stimulate the spleen, an organ that helps fight infection as well as filter harmful particles from the blood. The benefit of twisting poses doesn’t stop there, however. They also activate the lymph system, which helps to drain and filter bacteria from the body.
Yoga provides relief if you’re already sick
Not only does yoga boost immunity against colds, sore throats, and other illnesses, it also has therapeutic benefits for those who already live with more serious conditions. Findings reported at the American Physiological Society (APS) found that yoga may strengthen the immune systems of breast cancer survivors. The study, which examined lyengar yoga, a form that combines active postures with meditation, found that it decreased the activation of a certain protein that indicates physical and mental stress.
Yoga will strengthen your immune system
Whether you want to avoid the sniffles and snorts of a cold or recuperate from a more serious illness, consider making yoga part of your wellness strategy. With techniques rooted in traditions thousands of years old and an emphasis on creating a body capable of healing itself, yoga can boost your body’s own immune system, allowing you to live the life you want and deserve.
Yoga Products
Recent Articles
