Shortness in breath, tightness in the chest, wheezing, and coughing … are these symptoms plaguing you? If yes, you have to seek immediate medical attention and get treated for bronchial asthma! In general, asthma is triggered by allergens such as smoke, dust and pollen.
Certain infections of the respiratory tract, drugs, food additives and emotional stress are other major reasons for triggering an asthma attack. Primarily, you should take care to not expose yourself to these asthma triggers as much as you can. However, to keep the incidences of asthmatic attacks to a minimum, you should try out yoga exercises that will generally boost up your body’s power to fight asthma.
Yoga Exercises For Bronchial Asthma
Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
Matsyasana has been voted as one of the best poses for bronchial asthma. This is because it involves toning up your respiratory system with a backward neck stretch. Lie flat on your back and move your arms beneath your hips so that the weight of your body is supported by your arms. Now, inhale and raise your head upwards and forwards. Exhale deeply.
While exhaling, arch your neck backwards and let your head rest lightly on the floor. This pose opens up your respiratory system and the breathing action, detoxifies your body. Remain in this pose for 1-2 minutes. Revert to resting pose.
Bhastrika (The Bellows Breath)
Bhastrika Pranayama oxygenates, detoxifies, and relaxes the body, which is very essential for lowering the stress levels of the body, which are potential triggers of bronchial asthma. Sit cross-legged on the floor with your eyes closed. Inhale deeply and slowly, while feeling the rising of your abdominal muscles.
Hold your breath for a while. Exhale slowly and be aware of your abdominal muscles pulling inwards. Relax your body. Repeat this yoga breathing exercise 5-10 times.
Neti (Yogic Cleansing Of Respiratory System)
Neti is a process of cleansing the respiratory passages. This process removes nasal blocks and is therefore beneficial for persons suffering from asthma and bronchitis, as these diseases are characterized by nasal congestion. After performing neti, one can easily breathe through his/her mouth. Neti can be done in3 ways, i.e. Jala Neti (passing water through the nostrils), Dugdha Neti (passing milk through the nostrils) and Sutra Neti (passing thread through the nostrils). Perform Jala Neti with a neti pot. To perform this activity, pour tepid water from a neti pot into your right nostril, while breathing from your nose.
Keep your right nostril tilted to allow pouring water into it. Next, allow this water to flow out of your left nostril. Milk Neti is for nostrils that are bruised due to repeated hard breathing owing to obstructions. Sutra neti involves passing a thread through one nostril and gently pulling it out of the nose, after moving it to and fro in the nasal passage to remove blockages. Milk and sutra neti should be tried only after failing with Jala Neti. All neti exercises should be learnt and performed under the supervision of an experienced Neti expert.
Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
Nadi Shodhana Pranayama is a yogic breathing exercise that oxygenates and strengthens the respiratory system by utilizing lung space that is not used in the course of regular breathing. To perform this exercise, sit cross-legged on the yoga mat. Close your eyes and shut your right nostril with your thumb.
Inhale through the left nostril. Now shut the left nostril with your ring finger and exhale through the right nostril. Repeat the cycle by inhaling through the right nostril and exhaling through the left nostril, keeping the non-active nostril shut. This exercise can be performed for 15 minutes a day.
Kapalbhati Pranayama (Skull Shining Breathing Exercise)
Kapalbhati Pranayama is a type of yoga breathing exercise that involves forcible exhalation. This exercise eliminates spasms in the bronchial tubes, and it directly works on the respiratory centers of the brain, strengthening them.
To perform this asana, sit cross-legged on the yoga mat. Close your eyes, inhale slowly and deeply. Exhale forcibly and fast. Repeat this cycle at a moderate pace for 15 minutes every day.
Caution: Please use Home Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.