Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition affecting billions of people globally. The struggle for asthmatics to breathe freely can be debilitating. Our everyday things like running to clear our head or being stressed out after a hectic day at work can feel like a near-death experience for asthmatic patients.
While modern medicine has made significant advancements in managing asthma symptoms, yoga is still one of the most effective ways to treat asthma. Wondering how reaching out to a Yoga Class Near Me can help. Well, read on to find out!
How Yoga Can Reduce the Symptoms of Asthma?
Did you know approximately 300M people suffer from asthma worldwide, and India alone has a population of around 1.31bn asthmatics, out of which 6% are children? In fact, according to a study by Global Asthma Network (GAN), India accounts for more than 42% of global deaths caused by asthma. Yes, the stats are staggering, but Yoga can help. How? To comprehend how yoga influences asthma, we must first understand the underlying mechanisms of the condition.
Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction, leading to breathing difficulties. Stress and anxiety can trigger or exacerbate asthma symptoms, as the body releases stress hormones that may contribute to airway inflammation. This is where yoga comes into the big picture. With a combination of physical movements, controlled breathing, and meditation, yoga can help you to mitigate stress and improve overall lung function.
Breath Control in Yoga
Pranayama, the practice of breath control in yoga, plays a crucial role in improving respiratory function in asthmatics. Slow and controlled breathing techniques like alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana) have been shown to reduce airway resistance and decrease the respiratory rate. These techniques promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and help manage asthma symptoms by calming the sympathetic nervous system’s hyperactivity, responsible for the “fight or flight” response.
Strengthening Respiratory Muscles
Yoga involves various asanas (postures) that focus on stretching and strengthening different muscle groups, including those involved in breathing. Poses like the Cobra (Bhujangasana) and the Bridge (Setu Bandhasana) target the chest, shoulders, and diaphragm muscles, supporting better respiratory function. Practicing these yoga asanas along with other essential poses can help asthma patients to strengthen their respiratory muscles, improve lung capacity and enhance their breathing efficiency.
Reducing Inflammation
Scientifically speaking, chronic stress can contribute to inflammation in the body and the airways, exacerbating asthma symptoms. The relaxation techniques practiced in yoga such as meditation and mindfulness can decrease the production of inflammatory cytokines, hence reducing airway inflammation that leads to aggravated symptoms and attacks.
Conclusion
Yoga can be an excellent complementary therapy for asthma as it can be suited for different age groups, people with physical activities and anyone who has asthma. When you decide to practice yoga in a Yoga Centre Near Me, the advantages can leap beyond the mere physiological benefits. Yoga can also significantly enhance the quality of your life, whether you have asthma or not. Regularly practising yoga can lead to decreased reliance on asthma medication and reduced emergency medical visits. In addition, yoga also fosters a sense of inner calmness and empowerment that anyone can experience for holistic well-being.