A Yogi's Guide to Strengthening the Immune System

A Yogi's Guide to Strengthening the Immune System

How to incorporate in your practice a sequence of immunity toward infections as well as a deepening of ease in your body and peace in your mind.

Since most of us are happiest when we are feeling healthy and free of "dis-ease" yoga has in its time-honored tradition incorporated several practices to maintain our health and strengthen us when we feel ill-at ease.

Important to this sequence is prana or vital/cosmic healing energy that calms and purifies the nervous system. Pranayama or regulation of breath improves resistance to infectious diseases and increases vitality.

Three practices include: Deergha Swaasam a deep three part breath which utilizes the full capacity of the lungs. Kapaalabhati a kriya cleansing practice and Nadi Suddhi alternate nostril breathing practice which balances the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Surya Namaskaaram, sun salutations serve as a general tonic for the entire system. They warm and limber the body and move the lymph.

The lymphatic system is the body's network of vessels and nodes that circulates lymph—a transparent fluid rich in white blood cells that forms an important part of the body's immune system and helps remove toxins. The system pumps fluid through the body several times a minute, with assistance from the muscles. "When the lymphatic system operates at its optimum, it's like a free-flowing river, running with no rocks or diversions.

Bhujangaasana cobra pose releases nervous energy up and down the spinal column and makes inner adjustments in the vertebrae.

Arddha Salabaasana half locust promotes elasticity of the lungs and tones abdominal and reproductive organs.

Dhanuraasana the bow removes stiffness in the shoulder joints and gives great strength to the hip flexors and large muscles of the abdomen.

Janusirsaasana head to knee pose calms the nervous system.

Paschimotanaasana forward bending pose tones abdominal organs and improves digestion.

Bhakaasana the crow, Bhada Konaasana and Upavistha Konaasana all stimulate liver and kidney function.

Arddha Matsyendraasana half spinal twist squeezes toxins from the intestines and releases pain and stiffness in the hip joint.

Inversions especially stimulate the body's healing mechanism activating the endocrine system. They include shoulderstand, forearm, head and handstand. Sarvangaasana, shoulderstand drains blood from the digestive organs and rests the heart. It centralizes and nourishes blood in the spinal column.

Matsyaasana the fish pose massages the thyroid and throat and promotes hormonal balance.

Savaasana the corpse pose allows the muscles to relax and the energy to flow freely and is important to incorporate at the end of any practice no longer how brief.

Finally an integrated practice doesn't stop here because meditation also reduces the incidence of infectious ailments by de-stressing the body and mind. Ample research has shown that just 20 minutes of meditation a day increases endorphins, decreases cortisol levels and promotes positive states of mind. An integrated practice continues in the movement of the practice into our lives. A little practice before work, extra practice on the weekends, take a retreat or a workshop here and there, add an element of service and kindness to your daily life and voila a whole and healthy being.