How can yoga increase immunity?
Fragile body, low resistance, and a weak defence mechanism is a bad combination. Your body needs protection from unseen viruses and germs that go inside your body. Your active unhealthy lifestyle is putting that defense mechanism down and allowing those germs to do harm to you. Our immune system is a big and well-organized network of cells and tissues. It starts by detecting the viruses in your body. It browses through our entire lifestyle, looks for signs such as stress, inactivity, bad eating habits and evaluates them. And if it finds something is off, they restore it back to normal. Who would have thought our body mechanism is that amazing. But sometimes it can take a toll, and to boost your immunity you can try practicing yoga.
Yoga to boost your immunity system
Yoga and the immune system are well-connected. There are things yoga can do to boost your immune system. It recalibrates your body system, including the immune system. If there are any imbalances, it not just targets those body systems to function better, but also improves your immunity so that you have a faster recovery.
But who is the culprit here? There has to be some reason your immunity system is weakening. If you ask us, we would say the ever-increasing stress level. A primary reason to weaken your immune system.
Stress-busting Immunity-increasing Yoga Poses
1. Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
Tadasana is famously known as mountain pose. It is a base pose for many asanas and therefore it is also called the mother of all the yoga poses. It is actually quite simple too. You can do it any time of the day and would only take about 10-20 seconds of your busy life. Although you can do it any time of the day, we recommend you do it with an empty stomach.
This yoga pose will help you balance and regulate the digestive system, also it steadies your breathing and increases spatial awareness. It has been found very beneficial in relieving tension and refreshes you instantly, it also restores hormonal balance in your body and tends to increase energy and co-ordination by aligning body and mind.
2. Vrikshasana (tree pose)
Also known as the tree pose, as the name suggests it is one of the best poses for attaining stability and balance, just like a tree. It falls in the Hatha Yoga category. Just like Tadasana, it is also recommended to be done with an empty stomach. But also, you should do it in the morning with a fresh mind. However, we can understand you run on a tight schedule, so there is no harm in doing it at mid-afternoon office break or before dinner. To do this, all you need to do is balance yourself, and work your way up by holding your leg (one at a time) up in the air for a minute, and breath deeply.
Vrikshasana is one of the best exercises to strengthen your spine and enhance your nerve-muscle coordination. It also improves your focus and helps you gain an upper-hand on stress. Stretching further improves your stamina and will help you get more flexibility. It helps you in the relaxing nervous system too.
3. Padangusthasana (Big Toe Pose)
Padangusthana is also called a big toe pose. It involves stretching the muscles of your leg, spine, and neck. All you need to take off your busy schedule is 30 seconds early in the morning with an empty stomach. And if you miss it in the morning, just try to do it in the evening any time after 3 hours of your last meal.
Padangusthasana is one of those exercises that help you calm your brain, relieves stress, and anxiety. And has some amazing results in improving your digestive system. Your liver and kidney will get more blood flow, and result in new and improved energy. It relaxes your nervous system. If you have been suffering from insomnia, here is the good news. Just try Padangusthana and you will sleep like a baby at night.
4. Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
Trikonasana is called triangle pose. As the name suggests, it resembles a triangle. This is one of the best yoga poses to improve your immune system. It takes only 30 seconds. It is best to do it in the morning as it will leave you energized and will help you digest your food better. Also, as with the other poses it is needed to be done 2-3 hours before or after the meal.
Trikonasana helps you improve blood circulation, and strengthens your digestive system. It reduces blood pressure and also improves focus and mind-body balance. It will calm your mind and reduce your stress level.
5. Utkatasan (Chair Pose)
Utkatasana or chair pose is like sitting on a chair, but only you don’t use a chair. If you have been doing some training before you will be able to relate it with squats. To get the best benefit of Utkatasana you should hold yourself in that position for the 30-60 seconds.
It improves your strength, energy, and balance. It will stimulate your heart and massages your abdominal organs as it is an active participant in the exercise. You will find yourself more energized, and positivity.
Wrapping up
Yoga is full of wonderous poses and each one of it will benefit you to improve your health, strength, flexibility, and positivity. Here in this blog, we have picked some of the easiest and quick to-do yoga poses that help you fight off stress the major culprit in weakening your immunity system. Try them, feel the change, and don’t forget to tell us how you are coping with stress and improving your immune system.