By Bhavan Kumar
Yoga for the immune system is a reality. One of the benefits of yoga is that it can help improve the immune system. There are a few different ways that yoga helps to boost immunity. First, yoga helps to reduce stress levels. When we’re stressed, our bodies produce cortisol, which can suppress the immune system. By practicing yoga and reducing stress, we can help keep our immune systems functioning properly. Additionally, yoga helps to increase circulation and get rid of toxins in the body. The deep breathing associated with yoga also helps to oxygenate the blood and improve overall health.
State Of Health
The immune system is the body’s protector. It is constantly fighting off viruses and bacteria that can cause us to become ill. Unfortunately, it can become further compromised if we don’t take care of ourselves. Things like stress, not getting enough sleep, and not eating enough healthy foods all take their toll on the immune system. Too many of us take on too much and don’t listen to our bodies when they tell us to slow down. This is another reason why your Yoga practice can be beneficial. Asana and pranayama strengthen your body and therefore can help to strengthen your immune system. As we know, we cannot control everything, but we can do our best to protect our state of health.
Emotional Health
It’s long been thought that emotional health can affect the immune system, and recent research has borne this out. One study found that people who had high levels of stress were more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus. Another found that people who were depressed or anxious were more likely to have lower levels of certain immune cells. While it’s not yet clear exactly how emotional health affects the immune system, it’s clear that there is a connection.
https://youtu.be/EWkiJwOtn1E
Mental Health
There is a lot of evidence to suggest that mental health does indeed affect the immune system. For instance, people who are under a lot of stress tend to get sick more often than those who are not. Stress can impact the immune system in several ways, including by increasing levels of the hormone cortisol, which can suppress the immune system. Yoga and other relaxation techniques can help to reduce stress and improve mental health, which in turn can help to boost the immune system.
Physical Health
Debate surrounds the topic of whether or not physical health affects the immune system. Some people believe that being physically healthy can help to boost the immune system, while others believe that there is no correlation between the two. However, there is some evidence to suggest that being physically healthy can indeed help to improve the function of the immune system. For example, studies have shown that people who exercise regularly tend to have higher levels of immunity than those who don’t. Additionally, eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep are also important factors in maintaining a strong immune system.
Inner Peace
As we practice Yoga training, we are more mindful of our bodies. That mindfulness can help us realize that we need to take care of our bodies more. That means making an effort to put healthy foods in our bodies and reduce the number of unhealthy things we put into our system. We have to keep our bodies strong. Asana practice can help us calm down and bring about that inner peace that is so crucial to keeping stress at bay. After all, stress is often the culprit behind many different illnesses and disorders. High levels of anxiety can have a number of adverse effects on the body. So it makes sense to practice Yoga in order to reduce the stress in our lives.
Calming the Mind
In today’s fast-paced world, many people just keep going and going until they hit that proverbial wall. Keeping up a hectic pace all the time isn’t healthy. We’re all busy, but taking the time to practice regularly can help us center ourselves and calm our minds. The gentle stretching of asana practice can help to release hormones in our bodies that not only make us feel good but also have the ability to fight off infections and other organisms that want to invade our bodies.
Slow Down
Mindfulness (of ourselves and others) and cleanliness are major factors when participating in a healthy Yoga training session and in daily life. We understand the importance of mindfulness when washing hands and the body. We have to slow down and focus on important tasks. Yoga can teach us to listen to our bodies, and by doing so we learn how to differentiate what is good for us and what is not. We need to recognize what our bodies are telling us to start listening to them, and your practice is a great way to start doing just that.
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Related Research
Falkenberg, RI, Eising, C, Peters, ML. Yoga and immune system functioning: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Behav Med. 2018;41(4):467-482.
Infante, JR, Peran, F, Rayo, JI, et al. Levels of immune cells in transcendental meditation practitioners. Int J Yoga. 2014;7(2):147.
Vera, FM, Manzaneque, JM, Rodríguez, FM, Bendayan, R, Fernández, N, Alonso, A. Acute effects on the counts of innate and adaptive immune response cells after 1 month of taoist qigong practice. Int J Behav Med. 2015;23(2):198-203.
La Torre, G, Raffone, A, Peruzzo, M, et al. Yoga and mindfulness as a tool for influencing affectivity, anxiety, mental health, and stress among healthcare workers: Results of a single-arm clinical trial. J Clin Med. 2020;9(4):1037.
Ross, A, Brooks, A, Touchton-Leonard, K, Wallen, G. A different weight loss experience: A qualitative study exploring the behavioral, physical, and psychosocial changes associated with yoga that promote weight loss. Evid base Compl Alter Med. 2016;2016:1-11.
Deepa, T, Sethu, G, Thirrunavukkarasu, N. Effect of yoga and meditation on mild to moderate essential hypertensives. J Clin Diagn Res. 2012;6:21-26.
Related Studies
Jasti, N, Bhargav, H, George, S, Varambally, S, Gangadhar, BN. Tele-yoga for stress management: Need of the hour during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond? Asian J Psy. 2020;54:102334.
Zhang, M, Murphy, B, Cabanilla, A, Yidi, C. Physical relaxation for occupational stress in healthcare workers: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Occup Health. 2021;63(1).
Cocchiara, R, Peruzzo, M, Mannocci, A, et al. The use of yoga to manage stress and burnout in healthcare workers: A systematic review. J Clin Med. 2019;8(3):284.
Harkess, KN, Ryan, J, Delfabbro, PH, Cohen-Woods, S. Preliminary indications of the effect of a brief yoga intervention on markers of inflammation and DNA methylation in chronically stressed women. Transl Psy. 2016;6(11):e965.
Tolahunase, MR, Sagar, R, Faiq, M, et al. Yoga and meditation-based lifestyle intervention increases neuroplasticity and reduces severity of major depressive disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2018;36:423-442.
Tillu, G., Chaturvedi, S., Chopra, A., & Patwardhan, B. Public health approach of Ayurveda and Yoga for COVID-19 prophylaxis. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 26(5), 360-364; 2020.
Nagendra, H. R. Yoga for COVID-19. International Journal of Yoga, 13(2), 87; 2020.
I just want to say thank you to everyone who shares their wonderful talents and knowledge. It is so nice to read about yoga for the immune system and practice and share with others. You are all AWESOME!!!
A very helpful article about yoga for the immune system. Thanks for the advice, videos, and references at the bottom. Since I’ve tried Yoga, it gives me a lot of benefits. I feel the energy, relaxation and also peace of mind.