The immune system is our body’s personal cavalry, navy, and air force system. The highly advanced piece of technology that is the human body comes with its own in-built defense mechanism. Without the immune system, we would have no protection against harmful substances from the environment, diseases, and harmful cells.
Immunity is of 2 types, active and passive immunity. When our own immune system protects us from a pathogen, this is called active immunity. When we gain protection against a pathogen from someone else, this is passive immunity. The immune system contains white blood cells, antibodies, the lymphatic system, the spleen, the thymus, and the bone marrow.
Keeping both the mind and body strong can raise immunity levels, we also need to take care of our diet and consume immunity building foods.
Follow these yoga practices to improve your immune system.
Paschimottanasana
Formation of the posture:
- Begin with Dandasana
- Ensure that your knees are slightly bent while your legs are stretched out forward
- Extend your arms upward and keep your spine erect
- Exhale and empty your stomach of air
- With the exhale, bend forward at the hip and place your upper body on your lower body
- Lower your arms and grip your big toes with your fingers
- Try to touch your knees with your nose
Breathing Methodology: Exhale while bending forward
Dhanurasana
Formation of the posture:
- Begin by lying down on your stomach
- Bend your knees and hold your ankles with your palms
- Have a strong grip
- Lift your legs and arms as high as you can
- Look up and hold the posture for a while
Breathing Methodology: Inhale while lifting the body up
Chakrasana
Formation of the posture:
- Fold your legs at your knees and ensure that your feet are placed firmly on the floor
- Place your palms next to your ears, with fingers pointing forward
- Inhale, put pressure on your palms and legs and lift your entire body up to form an arch
- Allow your head to fall gently behind and keep your neck relaxed
- Keep your body weight evenly distributed between your four limbs
Breathing Methodology: Inhale while lifting the body up
Kapal Bhati
In Sanskrit, ‘Kapal’ means skull and ‘Bhati’ means ‘shining/illuminating’. Therefore, this Kapalbhati Pranayam is also known as Skull Shining Breathing Technique.
Method:
- Sit in any comfortable pose (such as Sukhasan, Ardhapadmasan or Padmasana)
- Straighten your back and close your eyes
- Place your palms on your knees facing up (in Prapthi Mudra)
- Inhale normally and focus on exhaling with a short, rhythmic and forceful breath
- You can use your stomach to forcefully expel all the air from the diaphragm and lungs by compressing it
- Inhalation should happen automatically while you decompress your stomach
Meditation
Super Power Meditation also a highly recommended practice as this influences the rate at which your body can heal itself. Meditation techniques can improve your mood, calm your mind, and help relax you.
Method:
Come to a seated position on a peak of the mountain in Sukhasana or any other comfortable pose that gives you the shape of a pyramid.
The intention is to sit in the shape of the triangle atop a mountain.
Visualize a reverse triangular shield in your chest and then meditate on this imagery.
During the meditative process, with every inhale, this shield allows you to welcome all the positive energies of the world into you. And, as you exhale you release unwanted toxins, miseries, and negativity from within you.
Yoga asanas, pranayama, and meditation are great ways to boost the immune system naturally.
Yoga is a great practice to lower the stress hormones in your body; stress is one of the biggest factors for a weakened immune system.
Spend a little time on yourself each day practicing asanas, pranayama, or meditation techniques. This will condition the lungs and respiratory tract, remove toxins from the body and enable the smooth functioning of your organs.
(Grand Master Akshar, an internationally acclaimed Yoga Master, Philanthropist, Spiritual Guru, Lifestyle Coach, Author)
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