One of the things best for your lungs, other than keeping them smoke free, is getting them into a regular exercise regimen, which would eventually strengthen them. Yoga is one of the most perfect ways to ensure such results which are beneficial for lungs and keeps them healthy. Therefore listed here are some of the asanas which are ideal for maintaining the health of your lungs:
Yoga Poses To Keep The Lungs Healthy
Trikonasana or Triangle Pose for Healthy Lungs
This yoga pose stimulates the nervous system and allows for easier air passage to lungs. One of the prime features of this yoga pose is it helps expand the chest cavity, thereby ensuring a good exercise for lungs. Not only the lungs, this yoga pose is extremely healthy in stretching and maintaining the inner thighs and abdominal muscles and strengthening the spine. Ideal for creating space and openness in body, this yoga pose stretches the pelvic ligaments too along with keeping the lungs healthy.
How to do Trikonasana or Triangle Pose?
Inhale and take a step to the right and keep the right foot at 90 degrees, the left heel turned inwards and both the heels 3 feet apart. Exhale and reach over the foot and bend to the right and place the hands either on the shin or ankle or hold the toe of the big foot with the first two fingers of the right hand. Pull the same, for creating counter tension and oppositional stretch. Turn the head towards the left thumb, opening the chest to the sky. Hold the pose for 5 breaths, inhale and come to the normal position slowly.
Gomukhasana or Cow’s Face Pose for Healthy Lungs
Another of the yoga poses which is highly beneficial for maintaining the health of your lungs is the cow’s face pose. Known for relaxing the body, this pose improves breathing by opening the chest area. Other benefits of the cow’s face pose include increasing energy and awareness along with relieving anxiety and tiredness.
How to do Cow’s Face Pose?
Sit in a position where the right knee is directly above the left knee, then stretch the left arm to the side and then take it to the back. Simultaneously, take the right arm above the head and fold it over the right shoulder. Now with both arms behind the back, try to clasp the fingers. You can bring the raised elbow behind the head so that the head presses against the inside of the raised arm. Throughout this yoga pose, the spine should be held erect and the head back. Repeat the same pose on the other side.
Naukasana or Boat Pose for Healthy Lungs
This yoga pose also expands the chest and encourages deep inhaling, which is extremely beneficial in improving the health of the lungs. The naukasana pose tones almost all organs by relieving stress and bringing deep relaxation. Some of the other systems that this asana stimulates includes the digestive system, circulatory system, nervous system, hormonal system and even the muscles.
How to do Naukasana or Boat Pose?
Start by simply lying down on the back and then as you inhale, hold the breath and raise the arms, then shoulders, then the head and finally the spine off the ground. Keeping the spine straight, line the arms with the raised legs and toes with hands open and palms down. Look towards the toes too. Hold this position for 5 seconds and then release as you exhale.
Shashankasana or Hare Pose for Healthy Lungs
Known for increasing the breathing power of the lungs, the hare pose strengthens the neck and shoulder muscles. The strengthening of these muscles in turn leads to enhancing breathing through exercise too. Another benefit of this yoga pose is, it relieves the stress which triggers breathing difficulties.
How to do Shashankasana or Hare Pose for Healthy Lungs?
Sit on your calves with your hands on your knees, inhale and raise your hands over your head. Then slowly as you exhale, bring your head towards the floor and the arms stretched straight ahead. Hold this position for a few seconds and then get back to the sitting position.
Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose for Healthy Lungs
One of the best yoga poses for asthma patients, this yoga pose stretches and opens up the chest. A regular practice of this yoga pose is ideal for strengthening the lungs.
How to do Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose ?
Lie on the belly with the arms on the sides. Now slowly bring your elbows next to your shoulders and raise the upper body as you inhale. Pull back your shoulders towards the hips and bear your body weight with your arms. Open the chest towards the sky and then as you exhale come back to the original lying position.
Matsyasana or Fish Pose for Healthy Lungs
This yoga pose is ideal for creating balance in the respiratory system of the body and is known for stimulating the distribution of oxygen in the body along with strengthening the lungs. As the pose opens the chest to the sky, it relieves the body of any stress in the respiratory system and eventually leads to stretching and strengthening of lungs.
How to do Matsyasana or Fish Pose?
Lie straight on your back with your arms on your sides. Now raise one hip at a time and place your respective hands under the hips. As you exhale, bend the elbows and push the upper body off the floor and raise your chest and tilt your head back. Try to touch the head to the floor as you bend it backwards. Hold this yoga pose for a few breaths and then return to the lying position.
Padma Sarvangasana or Lotus Shoulder Stand for Healthy Lungs
Though a little difficult for a newbie, this yoga pose is extremely beneficial in regulating a good blood flow to the lungs. Perfect for stimulating the oxygen supply to the lungs, this yoga pose improves your quality of breathing too. Another benefit of this yoga asana is that it purifies the blood.
How to do Padma Sarvangasana or Lotus Shoulder Stand?
Start with the supported head stand and then as you breathe out, bend the knees and cross the legs in a manner that your left ankle is on top of your right thigh and the right ankle is on top of the left thigh. Hold this pose for a few breaths and then release. It is important to pay attention to your quality of breathing as you perform this asana.
Ardha Matsyendrasana or The Sitting Half Spinal Twist for Healthy Lungs
Perfect for stretching the spine and stimulating glands in the body, this yoga asana is known for boosting the immune system. The deep abdominal breathing during this asana helps keep the lungs healthy and eventually strengthens the respiratory system.
How to do Ardha Matsyendrasana or The Sitting Half Spinal Twist?
Start with sitting in a position with your legs stretched in front of you. Then bend the left leg and place the heel of the foot beside the right foot. Now take the right leg over the left knee and simultaneously place your left hand on the right foot and the right hand behind the back. Finally twist the waist, shoulders and neck to right and look over the right shoulder. Hold this position for a few breaths and slowly step by step come back to the original position. Repeat on the other side.
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