How are you feeling today? Did you get a restful night’s sleep? Are you energized and ready to make the most out of your day? If so, fabulous! That’s an excellent sign your immune system is working optimally. If, however, your sleep has been intermittent and you’re feeling stressed out, you aren’t alone.
Here are 4 of the top ways yoga can support and strengthen your immune system and help you stay healthy all season long!
Stress is one of the primary factors in a weak immune system.
Yoga helps lower your cortisol levels. When your cortisol levels are high, your system is in fight-or-flight mode, which is important if you’ve run into a bear on your hike or your kayak capsized. But this surge of adrenaline is meant to be brief and temporary to save your life. If you’re constantly worried or stressed, your cortisol levels get out of whack and the rest of your system becomes depleted. As a result, you become vulnerable to getting sick or constantly feeling wiped out.
Yoga helps boost serotonin levels, which generate feelings of positivity and happiness.
Asana and Pranayama are powerful ways to shift how you feel. By naturally lifting your mood, you can focus more easily on the positive and minimize the negative and your nervous system can settle into a steady balanced rhythm. When you are in a state of equilibrium, you are able to fight off germs and bacteria more easily, which means you don’t catch a cold or flu as easily.
Sleep is the number one way to recuperate and stay healthy.
Yoga promotes restful, deep sleep. With regular asana (postures) and pranayama (breathwork), you can help move the tension and strain in your body, quiet your thoughts and emotions and shift yourself into dreamland. Yoga Nidra, or yogic sleep, is another way to recover and soothe your body, mind, and soul.
The lymphatic system is basically the sewage system of the human body.
Yoga aids in moving toxins by stimulating the lymphatic flow, which removes toxins and stagnation from our bodies. Unlike the circulatory system which has the heart to pump fresh blood, the lymphatic system does not have a pump and relies on movement and breath to usher out that which can cause disease. Practicing yoga encourages the lymph to flow more efficiently with each movement and deep breath.
During this time of shifting seasons, give your whole being an immunity boost. This week’s classes are specially designed to support your immune system and enhance your overall health. Let’s use yoga to be our strongest!
1. Ali Duncan - Coherent Breath
2. Maria Garre - Digestive Reset for a Happy Belly
3. Tana Pittman - Kundalini: Kriya for Disease Resistance
4. Nancy Nielsen - Yoga for Immunity Boost