The immune system has a vital role: It protects your body from harmful substances, germs and cell changes that could make you ill. It is made up of various organs, cells and proteins.
As long as your immune system is running smoothly, you don’t notice that it’s there. But if it stops working properly – because it’s weak or can’t fight particularly aggressive germs – you get ill. Luckily, yoga is a great way to boost immunity!
- Regular practice of Yoga asanas helps to create a healthy immune system and the proper environment for its functioning. They are extremely effective in producing the “relaxation response” and in counteracting the negative effects of the “stress response” on the immune system. For example, the pineal gland is responsible for secreting two extremely vital brain fluids related to our mental health. Those are, melatonin, which is the hormone that regulates sleep, and serotonin, which is the chemical that helps to maintain a happy, healthy balanced mental state of mind, among other functions. For this reason, asanas that stimulate the pineal gland regulate the hormones of this gland like Matsyasana (fish pose).
- Consistent meditation practice provides significantly decrease high levels of these stress hormones in the blood. Meditation training affects activity in stress-relevant brain areas such as anterior cingulate and amygdala and increase production of neurotransmitters, which are responsible for the all-encompassing sense of happiness such as endorphins and serotonin.
- The breathing techniques such as Full Yoga Breathhas a powerful effect on the body and mind. “By focusing on breathing, the control of breathing shifts from brain stem / medulla oblongata to cerebral cortex. The thoughts and emotions are by passed and mind can experience focus, emotional stress, random thoughts are removed. The emotions also create tension in muscles, stiffness and blockages to flow of Prana.” Awareness of breath helps manage these emotional disturbances and makes the prana flowing which create a healthy immune function.
- Bandha is another tool to support the flow of lymph. Mula Bandha and Uddiyana bandha aids in the movement of lymph towards the thoracic duct whilst Jalandhara bandha helps squeeze the lymph nodes around the throat and neck and support the movement of lymphatic fluid. Maha Bandha therefore is a powerful tool to support the movement of lymph during asana practice.
- Yoga Nidra directly increasesmelatonin production by stimulating the pineal gland of the brainand one of the melatonin’s roles is to counteract the effect of stress on the immune system.
- The digestive system is that 60% percent of the immune system is located in our intestinal tract which and the process of digestion is also performed properly and perfectly by pranayama practices. Increases the digestive fire (agni) and accentuates the movement of abdominal muscles and diaphragm, which in tandem affects the digestive organs and improves the digestion, provides adequate supply of blood reaches the organs and also enhance lymphatic flow. Bhastrika (bellows breath)is a high-frequency breathing pattern. It activates the sympathetic nervous system, increase the function of smooth muscle and build the body heat.