First, Build a Strong Foundation
Around the third century CE, the yogic sage Patanjali (Pah-TAHN-jah-lee) codified the purpose and practice of yoga in about 195 short verses, called sutras.
The chapter on practice outlines the eight-fold path of yoga, which is used as a roadmap for all aspiring yogis. The very foundation of practice comprises the yamas and niyamas, our moral and ethical codes.
As we continue to examine Patanjali's yoga sutras and the ethical foundations in weekly yoga classes here at the studio, I hope you find these references for the eight-fold path, and the yamas and niyamas helpful.
Yoga Fights Colds 3 WaysAsana, Mantra, and Anna (food)
You've done everything you could to prevent getting a cold: you eat a whole-foods diet with plenty of fruits and veggies, use the neti pot every day, get to bed by ten o'clock at night, and manage your stress with a daily yoga practice.
And then, it starts with a tickle, and before you can say "Echinacea" you've got that nasty cold or flu that's been going around.
So along with increasing fluids and getting plenty of rest, turn to yoga to help ease symptoms and speed recovery.
Asana: Restorative asanas like Supported Bound Angle (Salamba Baddha Konasana) and Legs-up-the-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) help open the chest, deepen breathing and relax the nervous system. Try this sequence if you are feeling under the weather.
Mantra: Vibrations from humming have been shown to open the sinuses and let phlegm drain, which can relieve pressure and may even help stave off a bacterial sinus infection. Try chanting Om, emphasizing the "mmm" sound to relieve nasal congestion.
Anna: Soup rounds out our yoga trifecta as a perfect antidote for colds and flu. Hydrating, warming and nourishing, this Spicy Ginger Miso soup works to prevent colds and flu as well as to ease symptoms if you do happen to get sick.
