Yoga Tools for Consideration: How Yoga Can Help with Immunity

Overview

Yoga tools that may be supportive include:

• Breathing Practices
• Mindful, Dynamic Movement
• Restorative Yoga
• Yoga Nidra
• Mindfulness and Meditation

Promoting Relaxation

• In addition to other tools you choose, considerations to aid in relaxation include meditative music, essential oils such as lavender, an eye pillow, and gentle touch to feet or head as appropriate.

Breathing Practices

See Pranayama & The Breath Hub for many considerations, including:

• Dirga Pranayama (Three-Part Breath)
• Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing)

Poses

Specific poses that may be appropriate include:

• Gentle Flow — dynamic movement with the breath to promote lymphatic circulation
• Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) and other hip and leg stretches — prop knees; to release tension in bigger muscles of the body
• Balasana (Child’s Pose) — with bolster; a way to ground, surrender, and invite the relaxation response
• Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclined Bound Angle Pose) — support under legs and one hand on belly and one on heart; to release tension
• Viparita Karani (Legs up the Wall) — with blanket under back and pillow over eyes; similar objectives as Balasana with the added benefits of a gentle inversion
• Savasana (Corpse Pose) — with block under sacrum and under the occipitals to further help in balancing the nervous system

Dynamic Movement

You can also improve your immune system’s lymphatic circulation with your asana practice. Practicing dynamic poses and flow sequences, where you move in and out of poses with your breath, naturally pumps your muscles, improving the flow of the lymphatic fluids through your body. Although not as effective as moving dynamically, you can even use your static poses to improve lymphatic circulation by rhythmically contracting and relaxing as many muscle groups as possible. – Nina Zolotow