Compared to other sports, yoga is a more gentle exercise that helps to improve flexibility and shape the body. In addition, practicing yoga appropriately also has the benefit of regulating the body. So, is it good to practice yoga when you have a cold?
Yoga is beneficial during the early stages of a cold
In the initial stages of a cold, when the body feels cold (often accompanied by sneezing or coughing), practicing yoga can improve blood circulation and warm up the body by exerting force on the back muscles and the lower abdomen of the autonomous nervous system. This can help alleviate the cold symptoms and promote recovery.
Yoga is not recommended during severe cold
1. Sweating during exercise can eliminate a large amount of toxins from the body, which may temporarily relieve cold symptoms. However, within 24 hours after exercise, the immune system may be temporarily suppressed, allowing bacteria and viruses to take advantage and potentially worsen the cold or even induce viral myocarditis, rheumatism, and other symptoms.
2. The body's metabolism increases after exercise, resulting in the depletion of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, weakening the body's resistance and potentially aggravating cold symptoms.
3. When practicing yoga, it is important to maintain even breathing. If you have severe nasal congestion due to a cold, practicing yoga can not only affect your breathing and the effectiveness of the practice, but also worsen the condition and deplete your energy.
How to practice yoga when you have a cold
Leg Stretching Pose
Sit upright with both legs extended, stretch your arms straight, and use your index finger to hold your thumb. Inhale, lift your chest and head, arch your spine forward, exhale, bend your upper body forward, try to bring your chest and abdomen closer to your legs, and touch the ground with your elbows if possible. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds, inhale, and relax. This pose can increase blood circulation and effectively prevent cold caused by wind and cold.
Abdominal Breathing Technique
Lie flat on your back, close your eyes, place one hand on your lower abdomen and the other on your upper abdomen, relax all your muscles, gently inhale through your nose, feeling the air passing through your nose, throat, and chest, slowly filling your abdomen until it fully expands. Then exhale slowly until all the air in your abdomen is released and your abdomen naturally sinks. Continue breathing in this way, this can effectively relieve cold symptoms.
How to practice yoga to prevent cold
1. Sit in the Diamond Pose, with the soles of your feet together, sit on your heels, separate your heels, inhale, raise your arms with palms pressed together, arms close to your ears, bend your body forward, touch your forehead to the ground, hold for 8 seconds, then inhale, rise up, and repeat the exercise 8 times.
2. Lie on your back on a yoga mat, rest for a while, rise up with your elbows on the ground, lift your chest, place the top of your head on the ground, palms pressed together, use abdominal breathing, lift both legs up to a 45-degree angle from the ground. This can effectively strengthen the function of the abdominal organs and prevent colds more effectively.
