Interesting article about the power of yoga to heal the body from a cold, sinus problems and headaches.
Breathe easier with gentle poses to clear your head and chest when you have a cold
When you’re suffering from a cold, allergies or some kind of respiratory infection, your instinct is to just stay in bed until you can breathe easier. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible. On those days when duty still calls, these gentle yoga poses can help you ease into your day and make it through.
This pose from MaryKate Bronder, a yoga instructor at Healthtime Fitness in North Reading, MA, stimulates pressure points on the skull that relieve congestion. It’s just as useful for taming sinus pressure related to allergies, infections, and tension headaches as with head colds. Just keep some tissues within reach!
- Sit on your heels with your knees together and your back straight. Clasp your hands together and reach your arms out in front of you without locking your elbows.
- Relax your shoulder blades down your back and engage your core by bringing your belly button toward your spine.
- Holding your core strong, bend forward at your waist, bringing your forehead to the floor in front of your knees.
- Inhale and reach your arms out on the floor alongside your ears into child’s pose.
- Exhale and gently shift your body weight forward, curling your neck and spine so your weight rests on the crown of your head. Roll back and forth with your breath, slowly and gently, from your forehead to your crown. Roll from front to back 10 times or for as long as it feels good. If you do more, rest in child’s pose for a breath between sets of 10. When you finish, slowly sit upright on your heels.
This is what yogis call a “restorative” pose, meaning it won’t sap your scant energy. Bell suggests staying and relaxing in it for a while. You’ll not only
breathe easier here, but you may notice other immediate results, like less coughing as your chest opens up.
- Sit on the floor and lay a bolster, long pillow, or thick folded blanket lengthwise (parallel to your spine) behind you. Then lie back, so your lower back, upper back, and head are all supported. You’ll feel your chest begin to open up with the stretch.
- Bend your knees, bringing the soles of your feet together and letting your knees fall to the sides toward the floor. Place a pillow or blanket under each knee if that makes the position more comfortable to hold.
- Rest your arms at your sides, with your forearms and elbows on the floor, palms facing up.
- Stay in this position 10 to 15 minutes, breathing normally.
This article was originally posted here: http://www.weather.com/health/fitness-exercise/treat-your-cold-2012-06-01
PattyYoga 