Want to ward off cold and flu this season? Try yoga

January 26, 2010

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For many, the cold months of winter mean it's time to stock up on tissues and cold medicine. While it may not be possible to avoid illness entirely, there are some ways yoga practice might be helpful.

Yoga postures are designed for more than building strength and flexibility. Classes are systematically designed to bring all of the body's systems to healthy, working order. This includes the body's natural defense, the immune system. A strong immune system not only leads to infrequent occurrences of illness but also can lessen the severity of colds and flu.

The strength of a person's immune system plays an important part in the prevention of colds and flu as its primary function is to protect the body from bacteria, viruses, fungi and other harmful organisms.

As with any type of physical activity, regular yoga practice will give the immune system a boost by providing a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients necessary for immune system organs and cells to function.

Also, yoga is beneficial for stress reduction. Stress hormones cause the thymus gland to shrink in size and therefore function poorly as a contributor in the development of immune cells. Yoga helps by lowering stress hormones that compromise the immune system.

In addition, yoga improves circulation, conditions the lungs and respiratory system, massages internal organs, stimulates the lymphatic system, improves the flow of the sinuses and brings fresh, oxygenated blood to various organs, ensuring optimal function.

How yoga postures help

Back bends:

Upper back bends are helpful in opening the chest and lungs and stimulating the thymus gland, which is in the center of the chest.

Inversions:

Postures such as headstand, shoulder stand or even those as simple as lying on the floor with your legs up a wall, help improve circulation and in turn allow immune cells to reach the entire body. Shifting blood and oxygen this way also stimulates the head and respiratory area and can help clear the sinuses.

Twists and hip openers:

These postures activate the kidneys, liver and spleen (organs of the immune system) and lymph nodes in groin and armpits.

Yoga practice can be quite effective as a preventive measure during cold and flu season. In addition, yoga postures can provide relief from symptoms of these illnesses. However, it should be noted that the immune system requires extra energy to ward off infections, and exercise and stress take valuable energy away from the immune system.

Practice with care when your body is not functioning at 100 percent. Avoid rigorous exercise and make extra efforts to reduce stress. If you do want to practice yoga postures during the early stages of cold or flu, a gentler or restorative practice is most appropriate.

This is the opinion of Lindsay Fields, who teaches yoga at Anytime Fitness and at South Asheville Yoga. Contact her at www.lindsayfields.com.

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