4 simple yoga stretches which can relieve cold and flu symptoms

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on – Apr 9, 2020, 14:20 IST

01/6Suffering from a cold? Try these easy yoga stretches

Battling a cold, cough or the flu is a painful ordeal. A blocked nose, throbbing headache, sinus, cough or fatigue can ruin your day and make it touch to concentrate on other things at hand.

While every cold cough may not be a sign of coronavirus, there’s no denying that cold and flu take their own sweet time to go away. Although medicines and a lot of rest work, practising some simple stretches and yoga poses can also help lessen your problem and tackle cold and flu symptoms from the root.

Here's why yoga can help you recover faster

Yoga has many benefits including boosting your immunity and balancing out your body’s chakras in a very gentle manner. While doing heavyweight exercises are not recommended when you are sick, doing simple stretches can get you back to normal in no time without putting any pressure.

Here are four simple yoga stretches which can nurse you back to good health in no time.

03/6Neck stretch

One of the simplest yet beneficial stretches for the body, a simple neck stretch can relieve symptoms of a bad cold and reduce tension around the neck and the chest, where there might be phlegm stored up. It can also relieve symptoms associated with a sinusitis infection, or sleeping in the same position for long.

How to do:

Sit comfortably on the floor or the chair, both feet crossed on top of each other. Keep back erect.

Now, start by tilting your head to the right. You may choose to place your right hand behind the head for added support and extend the stretch. Do not pull.

Keep the shoulders relaxed and get back to the original position. Do it the same way, on the other side. Hold for 3-5 breaths.

Child’s pose, also known as Balasana is a kneeling pose which is considered acutely stress relieving and one stretch which is quite comfortable, especially when you feel sick or heavy in the head. Doing this asana regularly may help get you relief from congestion, which can happen with a bad cold. It’s also quite a restful pose which can be done anytime, anywhere.

How to do

Kneel on the floor with your toes together and knees slightly apart from each other. Exhale and lower your torso down on the mat. Thighs and head should touch the ground. Rest your hands on your thighs. Breathe gently and hold the posture for two to three minutes.

Uttanasana (or Standing forward bend) is an inversion stretch which rejigs and invigorates your entire body, improves blood flow, protects sinuses and relieves cough and congestion symptoms in an easy manner.

How to do:

– From the standing position, stretch your feet to hip-distance apart.

-Now, as you start to fold, slightly bend your knees and relax your hips a little. Do it gently.

-As you do, rest your hands on the floor. Beginners can place them on the ankles or thighs.

-Stay in this position for 5-10 breaths.

A revolved detoxifying yoga stretch, practising this asana can help rejuvenate your internal organs, clear away toxins and mucus which might be trapped around the chest or lung passageway as well as better your digestion. It is a variation of the spinal twist pose.

How to do:

Start by sitting in the spinal twist position.

Inhale a breath, straighten your spine and elongate your stretch as you take the breath in.

Start exhaling slowly, moving and extending your neck to the right first, lengthening your movement as much as you can. Hold for 2 breaths. Repeat on the other side.

4 simple yoga stretches which can relieve cold and flu symptoms