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It’s virus season and your immune system just can't wait. The immune system fights off bacteria, illness and can bring you back to life when you’re feeling crumby. If want to strengthen your immune system in record time and give your body some love, here are 10 yoga poses you can do to strengthen your immune system.
1. Child’s Pose
Child’s pose can restore your lower back, spine, chest and shoulders. It's great for opening up the chest and expanding the lungs which can help you fight off lung related issues like pneumonia.
2. Downward Dog
One of my favorite poses, downward stretches almost every muscle in the body while allowing you to be in a gentle inversion. At that 45 degree angle, downward dog helps to increase blood flow to the sinuses and to help you kick that stuffy nose.
3. Puppy Pose
Puppy pose is right in between child’s pose and downward dog. This pose really helps to open the spine, chest and shoulders. The spine holds tons of toxins which puppy dog pose can help you to release. Once those toxins are out of your spine, you should be feelin’ real fine.
4. Forward Fold
Also one of my favorite poses, forward fold is a gentle inversion that allows your upper back, spine and neck to relax. Relaxing your back helps you to destress. This is key because stress can really weaken the immune system. When you can relax the tension in your back, stress can melt away and allow your immune system to slowly recover.
5. Camel Pose
Camel pose is great for opening your hips, spine and chest. As mentioned previously, poses that open the chest have great benefit to the lungs and spinal poses help remove toxins. Camel is great because it can help to detoxify the lungs, spine and hips all at the same time. It’s a win-win-win situation for your immune system.
6. Cow Face Pose
Cow Face is a very challenging pose for my body. When I’m sick, I’m sore and my hips are the first to lock up. If you can allow your hips, upper back and spin to engage in this opening pose, it can make a difference to your immunity. Crossing the legs acts as light spinal twist that moves toxins out of the body. For a deeper detox, connect your hands behind you and also open the chest to clear up buildup in your lungs.
7. Spinal Twist
Twists in many forms are great for your immune system. Think of your spine as a rag filled with water. If you twist the rag, all of the water pours out. This is what happens with toxins from viruses and illnesses. Unhealthy toxins collect in your spine and when you twist, you wring them all out. I enjoy gentle twists like the seated spinal twist (pictured above).
8. Legs up the Wall
Legs up the Wall is a great posture for bringing blood flow back to the body. When you put your legs up, gravity brings the blood back down to the rest of your body which recirculates blood where it should go. This is important because if you’re eating healthy (vegan) foods to kick out illnesses and toxins, you may need some help getting all of those nutrients through your body. Prop your legs up on a wall and allow those healthy nutrients to move through your body.
9. Big Toe Pose
This balancing pose is a great option for those who are stressed and anxious. Big Toe Pose helps to stimulate the digestive system and relieve some of the symptoms of headaches. I don’t know about you, but when I’m sick, I feel achey all over. This pose can help support sickness recovery and strengthen the immune system at the same time.
10. Corpse Pose
This is my all-time favorite yoga pose for the immune system. Why? Because I can finally rest. Resting is a great way to revitalize your immune system. Even a few minutes of deep breathing on the floor can reduce your stress hormones, relax the nervous system and offer a little R&R.
Which of these poses do you want to try to strengthen your immune system?