Yoga is a form of exercise that can be done by people of all ages and can play a beneficial role in improving a wide variety of medical conditions. It involves a series of poses and breathing exercises which can help to reduce stress related conditions and particularly asthma and bronchitis.

Asthma

Asthma is a common problem of the respiratory system, when an asthma attack occurs the bronchial tubes get very narrow this then leads to difficulty in breathing. A typical asthma attack is the sudden onset of breathlessness accompanied by wheezing; wheezing is heard because of the narrowing of the tubes and the air trying to get through them.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a more serious complaint of the lungs and is an infection of the lungs and bronchial tubes. The bronchial tunes become inflamed due to a viral or bacterial infection and can develop suddenly following a cold. Men are more likely to develop bronchitis than women and smokers are at a higher risk of developing bronchitis.

How yoga can help

Yoga exercises including the poses, breathing and relaxation techniques can all help to ease suffering from asthma and bronchitis, they help by making the person relax easier and therefore breathing is easier and will help your lungs to function better overall as well as when you are having an asthma attack.

Here are some of the poses which are particularly good for helping people suffering from asthma and bronchitis when used in conjunction with your medication:

Shoulder lifts

Many people hold a lot of tension in their necks and shoulders which can lead to stiffness and bad posture making breathing harder, practicing these exercises daily can help to relieve tension and stress resulting in a calmer and more relaxed frame of mind.

Sun salutation

The sun salutation relaxes the whole body and eases stress and tension form the muscles including the muscles in the chest which can get tight resulting in harder breathing.

Anuloma Viloma

This exercise is also called the alternate nostril breathing technique and you inhale through one nostril, hold the breath then breathe out through the opposite nostril.

The relaxation pose

This pose is based on the theory that there are three separate parts that make up total relaxation, physical, mental and spiritual relaxation. This yoga pose is done to help you relax quicker and easier and leaves you feeling full of life and energy.