Yoga for Acute Bronchitis - Living Room Yoga

Yoga for Acute BronchitisBy Bette GoldToday’s yoga poses, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques are designed to helpyou relax and breathe more easily. We will focus on balancing the heart shakra, the 4 thenergy center in the body, which relates to the health of our lungs. Back bends thatopen the heart help balance this shakra. We’ll also focus on poses that turn the bodyupside down, because when the body is turned upside-down, the diaphragm is in aposition where it is easier to exhale, since it doesn’t have to work against gravity.Inversion of the torso also helps drain the lungs which might help clear the air passages.Sukhasana (Easy Seated Pose) – helps slow down metabolism, and provide tranquilityby keeping the mind still.Deep Breathing (Ujayii Breath) and then 3-part exhalationsDonna Farhi: Starting a yoga session without making an intention is like invitingfriends for dinner, and not setting the table.Intentions: Make your own or here are some suggestions: I feel free to let go ofwhat no longer serves me. I feel independent and free. I release the past. I’m not afraidto speak my truth when dealing with others.Shoulder Rolls – to ease the tension that most of us hold in that area of the bodyAsthma Mudra – to increase the capacity of the breath. Start in prayer, with fingerspointing away from chest. Fold middle fingers toward palms, pressing those fingernailstogether while keeping the other fingers extended.Bronchial Mudra: Little finger to base of thumb, ring finger to thumb joint, middle finger topad of thumb. Extend the index finger.Alligator Twist -- lie on side, knees bent, lining shins up with long edge of mat. Arms areextended in front, with one hand on top of the other. Extend bottom leg and let top kneefall to floor. Inhale top arm up and over to the other side, following it with your gaze. Tryto bring both shoulders to the floor in the most open position. 5-6X on each side.Yoga Mudra from kneeling positionRabbit: Begin kneeling, hands on floor beside knees. Press into floor with arms andlower top of head to floor. Round the spine and lift hips high. Engage all 3 bandhas, andwalk one hand at a time toward its heel, to grab from the outside.Lunge, followed by hamstring stretch.

Set up folded blankets for legs up the wall, and a chair facing the wall to the front of yourmats.Inverted Staff Pose: Legs up the wall (or just up) with arms lifted. Vinyasa variation (forkapha imbalance): Lift and lower the arms.Supported Shoulder Stand: Use folded blankets under shoulders & forearms. Set upblankets a foot or so from the wall. Bend knees and push feet against wall, lifting thepelvis. Complete the pose by coming away from the wall.From there, Supported Plough: From Shoulder Stand, keep torso perpendicular to floorand lengthen legs toward a chair seat or to the floor, curling the toes. Choice of armpositions.Rest, or go into easy variation of fish pose.Shoulder Stand on Chairs: 2 chairs against the wall with space in between. Fold mats,place on chairs with folded edge to inside of chair. Head between chairs, hands on frontedge, walk legs close. Lift one, and push off with the other. Come out by bending knees,engaging abs, and rolling down.Camel or Supported Camel: Facing wall w/ knees hip width apart, so that the thighs areon the wall as you bend back. Hands on back, fingers spread, and then if possible,Reach for heels or block, lifting the ribcage. Sense the heart opening as you lift and openthe chest, visualizing a white lotus on a field of green. Rest in child’s pose.Reclining Hero or Supported Reclining Hero: Start in hero, w/ bolster under the sitzbones. Come to forearms, open heart, chest & lungs. Move bolster so that it runs upspine, maybe a pillow on top for the head, coming in to the full supported pose.Supported Legs up the Wall orWaterfall – a restorative posture, Fold 2 blankets (or use a bolster), placing it about 2"from the wall. Lie on bolster in fetal position with right hip on it and right shoulder onfloor. Roll, bringing legs up the wall, chest and shoulders cascading over the bolster likea waterfall. Cover eyes, relax for a few minutes.Supported Savasana -- use brick, then bolster as usual. Place warm bed buddy on upperchest, use eyebag. Lengthen and soften the neck to the ground & completely release theweight of the head. Sense the ebb & flow of the breath and its connection with the largerebb flow of life’s universal rhythm. Visualize a green light surrounding the body, and asyou inhale, fill yourself with the color green. Feel the color green, become the colorgreen, the color of healing. Feel the green light expanding your heart, releasing anger,grief and sadness.