Suffering from Respiratory Issues? Try Yoga

Respiratory disorders have increased during this Covid-19 pandemic. So, we have to make sure that our lung functions properly. Breathing is necessary for survival. Proper breathing reduces stress, boosts your immunity, and allows you to stay healthy.

Regular and dedicated pranayama and other yoga practices are the most important ways to improve your breathing capacity and prowess. These holistic practices offer numerous techniques or asanas to increase one’s lung capacity and that of the entire breathing system, lowering the chances of contracting respiratory problems and/or reducing their impact, if they exist.

As a result, a thorough, long-term practice of the healing therapies of Pranayama and Yoga should be in everyone’s to-do list, if they want to stay healthy.

How to Diagnose If You Have a Respiratory Issue?

Asthma, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis (TB), bronchitis, and lung cancer are the most common types of respiratory diseases.

A majority of respiratory disease symptoms are also fairly common, including shortness of breath, a persistent nagging cough, chest pain, and blood in your sputum, also known as hemoptysis.

It’s important to remember that people with asthma typically exhibit symptoms such as coughing with sputum, general tiredness, and reliance on seasonal changes.

On the other hand, common TB patients exhibit symptoms such as cough with sputum, hemoptysis, and weight loss, whereas COPD patients exhibit cough with sputum and major fatigue, which worsens over time if not treated properly.

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If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, please see a lung specialist right away.

How Yoga and Pranayama Can Help?

Yoga is based on five principles: positive thinking and meditation, relaxation, exercise, pranayama, and a nutritious diet.

Controlled breathing, also known as pranayama, is a technique known to increase our lung capacity and overall bodily functions through regular practice by controlling breathing in and breathing out.

The technique makes use of diaphragmatic and abdominal muscles, which improves the human respiratory system. Regular practice of pranayama techniques such as Kapalbhati, Nadisuddi, Bramhari, Bhastrika, and others has been shown to benefit practitioners. And we must do them regularly if we want healthy lungs that will last a lifetime.

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In addition to pranayama, if one practices the yogic exercises known as yogasanas, the benefits accrued are multifold. This form of exercise connects our body to our heart and soul and puts us back in touch with our inner self.

Some of the yoga poses that can be practiced for respiratory issues like TB, asthma, COPD, bronchitis, and so on, are Dhanurasna, Bhujangasana, Matsyasana, and Trikonasana.

These poses are very effective in lung cleansing and strengthening chest muscles. If one is practicing a layered asana such as Surya Namaskar, it has major detoxifying effects on our internal organs as well as brings about a sense of relaxation.

All of these practices, however, must be combined with healthy eating as part of our daily routine. Fresh vegetables, fruits, and pulses should be consumed on a daily basis and cooked with the appropriate spices for your body dosha type and season.

Consuming local seasonal fruits and vegetables also boosts our immunity and helps us fight disease more effectively.

While all of this may sound like general advice, our lungs will not be strong on their own unless our overall health is good.

Breathing is the first thing we do instinctively after birth, but when we are confronted with respiratory diseases, that instinct becomes a laborious task. Let us work together to make this activity as simple as possible by utilizing alternative therapies.



Source-IANS