.jpg)
"I am not sick! I am not sick! I refuse to be sick!" You proclaim to the heavens in between coughs and sneezes. The mantra seems to be working in reverse, as every time you use the word "sick", you actually feel worse, and not better.
"I am beyond this cold! I am not my body!" A slightly better affirmation, but by now you're starting to run a fever.
In addition to the tried and true immune system boosters like rest, hydration, vitamin C & zinc, exercise and a "superfood" diet, I'd like to include three more additions to your Healthy Body Toolbox.
Kapalbhati breathing, or "Breath of Fire" is a yoga exercise designed to create heat in the body, and burn toxins much like a fever does when ill, to kill off germs.
Generally performed in a seated Easy pose, I'm going to offer a slightly different variation, combining three parts into one. Here are the steps:
- Stand facing a wall. Press your palms against that wall and straighten your arms, walking your feet backwards and hinging at the hips, until you have a straight line from your wrists to your tailbone. Your hips will be lined up over your ankles, with your feet parallel to each other and legs parallel to the wall. Your upper body will be parallel (or nearly so) to the floor (depending on your body and flexibility level), forming a box. [SEE PHOTO for REFERENCE]
- Take a deep inhale through the nose, and then begin continuously exhaling 2-3 quick bursts of air per second in rapid succession through your nose (imagine a fire-breathing dragon snorting air from it's snout). You will not be consciously inhaling after the first breath, only rapidly exhaling. Pull from the diaphram and low belly (vs. your shoulders and upper chest). [IF YOU FEEL LIGHTHEADED or FLUSHED STOP, and return to normal breathing]
- Keep Kapalbhati breathing going for about a minute (longer with practice), and then look between the palms, stretching the back between the shoulder blades and behind the lungs. Take a few deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling fully, allowing your breathing to return to normal.
- Before coming out of this chest expansion pose, tell yourself, "I have a healthy body. I AM a healthy body."
You might also enjoy these:
Comments
Hi I'm in Tampa right now. I'll add you to my list of examiners. I'm trying to find some I "know." Jo
Thanks for this article, I love Breath of Fire and use it each morning in my personal practice. Like a lot of the Kundalini tradition, it will clear you physically and mental/emotionally. If everyone just spent about :20 a morning in Yoga and then another :20 in scraping your tongue, dry brushing and applying oil to your skin before your shower, stress in our society would fade.
Namaste'
KC
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!