Doing These 5 Yoga Asanas Can Ease Breathing Difficulties

Yoga poses and breathing exercises are believed to reduce stress and strengthen the lungs through increasing lung function. Yoga also uses breathing exercises known as pranayama, such as the Bhastrika pranayama, Anulom Vilom pranayama, and Kapal Bhati. These workouts can increase your lung capacity and help you breathe more clearly, which will help you recover from respiratory conditions like bronchitis. Early in the morning is the ideal time to practice yoga since it will keep you active, energized, optimistic, and focused for the rest of the day. Find below some yoga asanas by Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, Founder of Akshar Yoga Institutions, Himalaya Yoga Ashrama, World Yoga Organization to improve breathing functions.

Yogic Warm-up

Sukshma Vyayam or subtle exercises beginning with your toes can help you progress. These entail gradually rotating the neck, arms, wrists, hips, and ankles while slowly warming up the joints. While exercising your muscles and stretching, walk quickly. You can avoid exercise-related injuries by doing this, which will also prepare your body for exercise. Before attempting any postures that call for back bending, it is essential to thoroughly warm up.

Hastha Uthanasana

• Start with Samasthithi pose.
• Raise your arms with your palms facing each other.
• Put your head tucked into both the arms and slightly bend your back.
• Do not bend your knees and keep them straight.
• Keep your eyes open while performing this yoga asanas.

Vajrasana – Thunderbolt pose

• Keep your spine straight and put your arms by the sides.
• Kneel down while keeping your toes pointed outwards.
• Rest your pelvis on your heels.
• Rest your thighs against the calf.
• Keep your heels at some distance from each other.
• Your palms should face upwards and then rest them on your knees.
• Now while keeping the back straight, look ahead and repeat 10 times.

Paschimottanasana – Seated forward bend

• Get into the Dandasana pose by extending your legs forward.
• Raise your arms while keeping the back straight.
• Exhale and slightly bend your upper body from the hips.
• Bring your arms down and try to touch your toes with your hand.
• Try to touch your nose to your knees.

Ustrasana (Camel Pose)

• Kneel your body in the sitting position and keep your hands on your hips.
• Rest your palms on your feet and bend your back.
• Try to maintain a neutral neck position and hold this for 5-10 seconds.
• As you exhale, return to the original position.
• Stretch your hands backwards and place them on your hips.

Balasana (Child’s Pose)

• Lift your arms above your head and kneel gently.
• Inhale and stand on your heels.
• Exhale and bend your upper body.
• Rest your pelvis on the heels and put your forehead on the ground.

Mucus can be removed from the lungs and airways with the aid of lung cleansing treatments, such as asanas and breathing exercises. For optimal lung health, Ayurveda advises drinking hot water mixed with ginger, honey, and turmeric. If you have bronchitis or other long-term respiratory disorders, you can potentially benefit from steam therapy.

Image credits- Grand Master Akshar