Yoga Poses For The Immune System
How Yoga Affects the Immune System
Cobra Yoga Pose
Cobra Yoga Pose
A strong immune system not only leads to less occurrences of illness, but also helps prevent more extreme manifestations of illness. A few of the ways that yoga positively impacts the immune system include:• Supporting the thymus gland
• Improving circulation
• Improving oxygen flow and aiding the transfer of energy from nutrients to cells
• Improving the flow of the sinuses and flushing out mucous from the lungs
• Increasing lung mobility
• Massaging and rejuvenating internal organs
• Relaxing the nervous system and boosting immune response
Stimulating the Thymus Gland through Chest-Opening Poses and Upper Back Bends
The locus of the immune system, the thymus gland occupies the area between the heart and the breastbone and is
Bow Yoga Page
responsible for producing T-Cells, a heterogeneous group of cells essential in protecting the body against invasions by foreign organisms. Examples of the yoga poses for the chest opening are fish, camel, bridge, cobra, bow and boat.
Other Benefits to the Immune System through Yoga Practice
Inversions in yoga practice such as shoulder-stand; headstand, plow and legs up the wall pose improve the flow of
Plow Yoga Pose
lymph and immune cells through the body by increasing the passive circulation of the lymph system. Lymph—the fluid that is formed when interstitial fluid enters the lymphatic system—is not pumped through the body like blood, but depends on the contractions of skeletal muscles to move. Lymph plays a role in transporting food, water and oxygen to the cells, as well as absorbing and carrying away waste products. The lymph system drains and filters inter-cellular fluid to detect and remove bacteria.
As part of the immune system, the spleen also performs vital functions including removing unwanted materials from the blood and helping to fight infection. Twisting poses in yoga as well as hip openers activate the secondary organs of the immune system, including the spleen and the lymph nodes. Effective poses for activating these organs include seated twist, prayer twist and hip openers such as bound angle, seated angle and pigeon.
Regular yoga practice also helps to improve circulation and oxygen flow, which is vital to the immune system. The body’s cells depend on oxygen to perform basic functions, and improving oxygen flow facilitates better transfer of energy from nutrients to cells and provides the immune system with more ammunition to fight off germs.
Finally, relaxed yoga postures and deep pranayama—the focused, deliberate control of the breath—help relax the nervous system and boost immune response.
Promoting a Balanced Immune System through Yoga
By reducing stress, massaging and stimulating the internal organs, balancing the nervous system and boosting the immune system, yoga plays a powerful role in preventing or alleviating the symptoms of a variety of viral infections and common illnesses such as colds and the flu.
Further Reading and References:
Jeff Migdow, M.D. “Balancing the Immune System With Yoga”
For information on how to do these yoga poses you can go to a yoga class near you or link to:
www.yogabasics.com (postures)
www.yogajournal.com (basics)
Dr Francis… I am so enjoying the depth and wisdom of your website.. Thank you for the gifts you offfer…wellness… immunities..and a robust lifestyle!
I heard recently at a yoga workshop that cold weather places more stress on your adrenal and endocrine systems and leaves the body more susceptible to illness. (In many Asian cultures, when cold weather descends, a wide belt is worn to protect and warm the kidneys.) So the poses you’ve listed all make sense, as they target associated organs and glands.
Additionally, Wheel, Triangle, Side Angle and Prayer Pose are good, along with lying on your back, hug knees to chest and roll gently from side-to-side to give your kidneys a little massage.