Immune Boon

Cold and flu season has already started and this year it's even more potent with the onset of swineflu. There's a general feeling of anxiety and fear spreading too as we try to protect our loved ones, our little ones and ourselves from getting sick. We can do common sense things like washing our hands a lot, eating better, taking vitamins, getting more sleep, exercising, etc. And we can also amp up our yoga practice.

I'm not saying that yoga is a cure all, but it has definitley been proven to strengthen the immune system. Add to your yoga practice, some meditation and breath work, and you have yourself a powerful "cocktail" to keeping you healthy during this tough outbreak. In Yoga Journal's article on 38 Ways Yoga Keeps You Fit: (in regards to the immune system), here are some motivational reasons to practice yoga daily.

1) Going with the flow: Yoga gets your blood flowing, which helps your circulation, which means you get more oxygen to your cells, which function better as a result. Healthier cells fight off better when you come under attack. If you get sick, you may not be sick for long.

2) Lymph Lesson: when you contract and stretch your muscles, move organs around, and come in an out of yoga postures, you increase the drainage of lymph. This helps the lymphatic system fight infection and dispose of toxins at the cellular level. Again, you're able to fight anything off stronger and more efficiently.

3) Fighting the worry worts: Yoga lowers cortisol levels, the stress hormone that can build up in our bodies. And we all know that an abundance of stress, compromises your immune system.

4) Poop Scoop: sorry to bring this tidbit up, but when you practice yoga, the stretching and relaxation helps to alleviate constipation, getting rid of those toxins that your body might otherwise hold on to. Ayurveda, a sister science to yoga, confirms that alot of illness is born by not getting rid of those toxins in the body, they build up over time and this leads to illness and even disease.

So, what can you do? If you aren't an advanced yogi or a beginner, you can do just some simple poses to keep you feeling fit, loose and relaxed. A 20 minute practice of some sun salutations, twists, simple inversions in addition with deep belly breathing and a 5 minute meditation session is enough to keep the immune system rocking during this flu season.

Blessings and good health,
Susan

Facing what dogs you

I have major resistance to inversions. It's a kinder way of saying that they are not my favorite poses to do or to teach. There, I've said it. It's out in the open and I can't take it back. But let me back track. What's an inversion, you might be asking? In yoga, it's a pose like Handstand, Headstand, Shoulderstand, or Forearmstand. Basically, flip yourself upside down, and you've got yourself an inversion.

Inversions are my nemesis. They've dogged me my entire yoga practicing and teaching life. Try as I might, I just couldn't kick my legs and flip up and have my arms or wrists suppport me. Was it weak shoulders or back? Was it that my core wasn't strong enough to keep me engaged in the pose? Or was it my incredible fear of falling over and breaking my neck? Uhhh...yes, all of the above. So, I limited my inversions . I was just not the yogi who could freeform into headstand in the middle of the room. I couldn't do it and told myself that, repeatedly.

But as I'm reading Stephen Copes, "The Wisdom of Yoga," he says, this..."in yoga, what you practice, becomes stronger." Well, Duh...no wonder I couldn't do inversions, I didn't practice them enough to make them stronger.

For months I've been practicing more poses to strengthen my arms, my abs, shoulders, etc. And coming at it with a perspective of fun instead of fear, I'm finally able to do forearmstand and headstand against the wall and moving my legs off. Is it perfect? Absolutely not, but at least I can get my butt over my head and invert and not have a complete panic attack doing it. It's actually, dare I say it, fun and I'm beginning to reap the benefits.

Namaste,

Susan