Monsoons and the subsequent change in weather often result in low immunity and viral infections such as a sore throat, cold, fever, etc. which drain us. Yoga therapy has a holistic approach, works on 5 different levels i.e. Physical Body, Energy Body, Mental, Intellectual, Emotional and Spiritual level, which can help you overcome these ailments. Let’s look at how these levels help fight viral infections.
How Does Yoga Therapy Help?
1. Physical Body
Here are some Yoga Asanas you can practice to remove the physical symptoms of the infection.
A. Uttanasana
Helps in clearing out the sinus passages, thereby clearing out blockages and allowing for more complete breathing. It invigorates the nervous system and relieves stress and tension.
B. Setubandhaasana
Opens up the chest. It also sends fresh blood to the head, which helps open up the sinuses further. This asana also activates the thymus glands, one of the main organs of the immune system.
C. Viparit Karni 
The Legs Up the Wall Pose is a great pose to practice to counter respiratory ailments. When you practice this asana, you might find relief from headaches or backaches that accompany a cold. Practicing this asana calms the mind and makes you strong as your body deals with the cold and helps in reducing fatigue, which usually follows common cold. This asana helps the immune cells to move through your body.
D. Adho Mukha Svanasana
In this asana, your heart is placed higher than the head. There is a reverse pull of gravity that happens when you do that, and this aids in the proper circulation of the lymph and the blood. The mild inversion allows a free flow of white blood cells throughout the body and also helps to drain out the sinuses.
E. Ustrasana 
This asana opens up the chest and clears out all the passages. It is essential to try and breathe as much as you can while you are in this pose. This will help open up all the blocked areas that are causing the cold.
F. Matsyasana 
When you assume this asana, your chest is raised and your throat is opened up. This improves your breathing and might help alleviate a cold. During colds, one can support the upper thoracic back with a cushion, bolster, or yoga blocks, aiding optimal recovery.
2. Energy Body
Pranayama is practiced to eliminate mucus and any agitations in breathing. Practices for this are as follows:
- Kapalbhati Pranayama: Helps unclog the respiratory tract. Improves blood circulation and uplifts the mind. 2-3 rounds twice a day gives you renewed energy to combat common cold.
- Bhastrika Pranayama: Involves forceful exhalation that aids in clearing the nasal passage.
- Nadi Shodhan Pranayama: Helps open up a blocked nose. It also facilitates better flow of oxygen to the lungs and keeps your mind calm and peaceful.
- Ujjayi Pranayama: Helps increase lung capacity, as well as releases toxins with each exhalation.
3. Mental Level
Simple Dhyana Meditation is practiced to keep one relaxed in the physically stressful time. Just sitting in a quiet place with closed eyes for a few minutes and meditating can help boost the immune system and help fight any kind of infection.
4. Intellectual Level
Observing part of the self while practicing Yoga increases the awareness of self. This awareness eliminates agitations of mind, which brings self love and compassion
- Shavasana: This is a deep resting pose. Sometimes, when you have a cold, all you need to do is to rest your body. It energizes it and helps it fight better against the cold-causing viruses. It shifts the focus on oneself, and increases awareness, which helps relax the mind and body.
5. Spiritual Level
Mediation, Prayers and Chanting can help you boost your immunity and keep you mentally strong during the time when the body is suffering with an infection.
Practicing the yoga therapy based module for viral infections not only strengthens the immune system of the body, but it also improves mental health, which is very important to heal and recover. Staying strong mentally helps our body fight any infection better. Yoga Therapy works on our overall health. It gives one a strong body, a strong mind and a strong spirit to overcome most things.
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#BeTheForce
With the Omicron variant looming over our heads, there’s one very important thing to realize – the virus attacks people with a compromised or low immune system. A strong and properly functioning immune system helps by protecting you in your daily life as you come into contact with germs and bugs from other people, pets and the environment around you. Without a healthy immune system, you could pick up infections and infectious diseases more easily, and the effects could be serious – even fatal. So let’s look at ways in which we can improve immunity naturally! 
