Colds, Allergies, and Yoga Practice

Generally, I try to avoid injecting "myself" into my blog, but I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one in town who is experiencing allergy/cold symptoms. Whatever the season, upper respiratory discomfort is a nuisance at best, and the more extreme the discomfort the more the misery. What is to be done when you are feeling less-than-optimal from cold and allergy symptoms. Here's some advice from Dr. Timothy McCall's article in Yoga Journal:

Check in with your body before you attempt your regular yoga practice. If you feel drained or "wiped out," pushing through the usual heat-producing sun salutations might send you back to bed. Try a gentle or restorative practice (legs up the wall, for example). Avoid vigorous breathing techniques. And it stands to reason that if your nose is congested, alternate nostril breathing is out of the question. Once your energy improves, you can gradually return to a more active and vigorous practice, even if you still have a cough or your nose is a bit stuffy.

Antibiotics won't do a thing for viral infections nor will they help allergies. (During summer, determining if you have caught an upper-respiratory viral infection or if your allergies are kicking up becomes rather problematic. A virus lasts ten days to two weeks; an allergic reaction may persist longer.) There are over-the-counter (OTC) remedies that might alleviate your symptoms and make you more comfortable, but keep in mind that many OTC medications have lots of compounds to treat multiple symptoms and you might not need all that much. Pamper yourself with slippery elm lozenges for a sore throat, or acetaminophen for achiness.

Feeling stuffed up? Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to boiling water and breathing in the vapors can help nasal congestion. The brave souls who have mastered the use of a neti pot swear by this technique for clearing out sinus congestion. Another less tricky technique for loosening phlegm is the pranayama practice of Bhramar ( or Bumblebee breathing)i: press your lips together and make the sound of a buzzing bee. The humming vibrations open the sinuses and help drainage. To manage sinus pressure and headaches, don't practice any asanas that involve inverting your head.

Support yourself. Even restful poses such as Savasana (Final Relaxation) aren't easy when you are congested. Instead of lying flat on your back, support your back along the length of your spine with a large cushion (get one from the couch). Put another cushion or folded blanket under your head and neck. Then you can breath easier and get the most from the asana. Supta Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) is also restful with back support and helps ease digestion. 

Dr. Timothy McCall is considered an authority on how yoga can be integrated into keeping yourself healthy and balanced. Check out his book Yoga as Medicine for poses and recommendation that might be helpful to your specific concerns.

Until next week, namaste,
Nancy