A monthly muse on all thing’s health & wellbeing with Carole Baker, Founder of the self centre
Did you know that practicing Yoga can have a profoundly positive affect on your Immune System? The Immune System is continuously under study as we have so much more to learn about what affects our ability to be in a state of “ease” rather than “Dis-ease” It is a complex network throughout the body that provides multiple lines of defence against illness. There are 2 main categories: innate immunity & adaptive immunity.
When functioning optimally, the immune system maintains a delicate balance. When a threat or injury arises, it triggers responses such as redness, inflammation (swelling), fatigue, fever, and/or pain. It’s important for the immune system to be strong enough to find and attack potential threats, but it must also be well-regulated so that the body is not always on alert or in attack mode.
What we have discovered is that all the following are closely linked to the efficient functioning of our amazing Immune System and there are Yoga Poses that help regulate these systems.
- Respiratory system – the backbends of Yoga open the chest and facilitate better breathing through a focus on primary and secondary respiratory muscles and fascia and the importance of good abdominal support.
- Lymphatic system – the inversions and joint freeing elements of Yoga ensure that Lymph actually gets moved around the body so it can do its job of managing toxins, virus and bacteria. Sit around all day and you become stagnant!
- Digestive system – Twisting poses of Yoga improve Gut Functions. The Gut and the immune system support one another to promote a healthy body. If the gut is exposed to bacteria-stripping factors (poor diet, antibiotics, surgeries, toxins) this lowers your good intestinal flora, which can snowball into reduced immunity. When your gut is out of balance, meaning not enough good friendly bacteria vs. the pathogenic, your whole body is affected.
- Endocrine system – The immune system is highly receptive to endocrine signals due to hormone receptors on immune cells. So, when your adrenals secrete cortisol in response to stress, it is known to slow down your immune systems response. Many Yoga poses work to stimulate specific Endocrine glands (e.g. Shoulderstand – thyroid)
- Sleep quality and quantity – Lack of sleep can throw off the immune system. Evidence indicates that in both the short- and long-term, sleep deprivation can make you sick. Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra has been shown to help improve sleep.
- Stress, anxiety and the mind – we know that Stress literally strangles the body and this also has a detrimental effect on how your immune system functions. Yoga is well documented to have stress reducing effects.
- The exposome (internal and external environment) – Pollution, toxins from chemicals in water, products and food also all affect how your immune system functions. As you learn more about how your own body functions through practicing Yoga, Mindfulness and Breathwork you will become more aware of what you eat, drink, put on your skin etc.
Books
• The Biology of Belief – Dr Bruce Lipton
• Ultra Processed People – Chris Van Tulleken
• What Doctors Don’t tell you – Website and magazine www.wddty.com
Please be advised the health suggestions contained in this article are only the personal opinion of the author, they do not constitute medical advice. Please always consult your GP before taking any alternative or complementary remedies, particularly if you are currently on prescription medication. Please ensure you always see a professionally qualified and insured complementary therapist or teacher.
