International Yoga Day, Top Asanas for Immunity

International Yoga Day, Top Asanas for Immunity

The traditional and ancient discipline of life can help your body regain a run-down immune system from the steroids in COVID 19 recovery. Or one can ensure that they are not unprepared for what this global pandemic can unleash next.

Top Asanas For Immunity

SHISHUASANA (CHILD POSE):

As the name suggests, this is an asana that makes your body resemble that of a child as much as it puts your mind stress-free by calming your nervous system. So, here’s how you can do Shishuasana:

· First, sit on your heels and while keeping your hips on the heels, bend forward, and lower your forehead to the floor.

· Next, keep your arms alongside your body with hands on the floor, palms facing up. You can also place one fist on top of another and rest your forehead on them.

· Gently press your chest on the thighs and hold.

· Slowly come up to sit on the heels, uncurling vertebra by vertebra and relax.

SETU BANDHASANA (BRIDGE POSE):

Improving your psychological health by relieving your anxiety, stress, raising your immune strength. You can use this asana to open up the chest helping your lungs by following the steps below: -

· First up, lie on your back.

· Fold the knees and keep your feet hip-distance apart on the floor, 10-12 inches from your pelvis, with knees and ankles in a straight line.

· Keep your arms beside your body, palms facing down.

· Slowly lift the lower back, middle back and upper back off the floor and gently roll in the shoulders. Then touch the chest to the chin without bringing the chin down, supporting your weight with your shoulders, arms and feet. Feel your bottom firm up in this pose. Both the thighs are parallel to each other and the floor.

· Keep breathing easily while holding the posture for a minute or two and exhale as you gently release the pose.

HALASANA (PLOW POSE):

Keeping the liver and other abdominal organs healthy, practice of Halasana is also responsible for a strong and reliable body. Here’s how you can perform this Yoga asana for immunity: -

· Lie on your back with your arms beside you and palms downwards.

· And as you inhale, use your abdominal muscles to lift your feet off the floor, raising your legs vertically at a 90-degree angle.

· Continue to breathe normally and supporting your hips and back with your hands, lift them off the ground.

· Allow your legs to sweep at a 180-degree angle gently over your head till your toes touch the floor. Your back should be perpendicular to the floor. This may be difficult initially but attempt for a few seconds.

BHUJANGASANA (COBRA POSE):

Relieving stress and anxiety, Bhujangasana helps to strengthen immunity. It helps in opening the heart and lungs which is best to prevent any lung congestion which is best asana for recovering from Covid-19. This is the way to perform it: -

· Lie on your stomach with your toes flat on the floor and your forehead resting on the ground.

· Keeping the legs close together and your feet and heels lightly touching each other, place your hands (palms downwards) under your shoulders, keeping your elbows parallel and close to your torso.

· Taking a deep breath in, slowly lift your head, chest and abdomen while keeping your belly button on the floor with your shoulders relaxed.

· Pull your torso back and off the floor with the support of your hands.

· Keep breathing with awareness, as you curve your spine vertebra by vertebra. If possible, straighten your arms by arching your back as much as possible; tilt your head back and lookup.

· Breathe out and gently bring your abdomen, chest and head back to the floor.

DHANURASANA (BOW POSE):

This asana is known for keeping one’s digestive health in check and the cortisol levels controlled removing stress from one’s life. The steps below can guide you on how to do the bow pose: -

· Lie on your stomach with your feet hip-width apart and your arms by the side of your body. Fold the knees and hold your ankles.

· Breathing in, lift your chest off the ground and pull your legs up and back. Looking straight ahead, Keep the pose stable while paying attention to your breath. Continue to take long deep breaths as you relax in this pose. But don’t get carried away! Do not overdo the stretch.

· After 15 -20 seconds, as you exhale, gently bring your legs and chest to the ground. Release the ankles and relax.

A STEP TOWARDS BETTER IMMUNITY

Yes, immunity has been a challenge to maintain in the past 2 years and especially today after the second wave of corona-virus. While India fights the pandemic, let us revisit their 5000 years old and one of the most effective practices in keeping secure health, Yoga.

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy