Yoga asanas to strengthen your lungs and boost immunity post-COVID

As the pandemic has touched millions of lives all over the world, the number of people who have suffered from COVID-19 has also been on the rise. Since COVID-19 is an infection that affects our upper respiratory system, strengthening the lungs is crucial for better recovery post-COVID. This objective can easily be achieved by practising some common yoga asanas. The combination of yoga asanas and breathing techniques can help to boost immunity and strengthen the lungs.

To do this asana, you need to sit down with your back and neck straight and chin parallel to the ground and legs stretched out. Bring your right heel closer to your right hip by folding the knees and wrap your leg with your left arm. Extend your right arm behind your back and look back while inhaling deeply. Return to the initial position while exhaling. Repeat the process on the other side as well.

Sit down on the floor and join your heels together by folding your knees. Bring your heels closer to your groin region by interlocking your fingers and let the knees fall sideways. Flutter your knees up and down allowing lymphatic circulation in your body. If you face difficulty doing this, you can even modify the method by grabbing your leg in your arms and swaying it closer to your body. Both methods are equally effective.

For this, you need to lie down on your belly, keeping your legs together with toes pointing outwards and palms placed on the floor beside your chest. Your elbows should not touch the ground and should be close to your torso. Slowly lift your head, chest and abdomen by unfolding your arms as you inhale. Your body should create an arch. Gently come back to the ground by exhaling. Repeat the process three to five times. In case of a wrist injury, you can rest your forearm on the ground and only lift your head.

For this asana, kneel down in such a way that your hips are placed between your heels. Bend forward by stretching your hands forward on the floor while exhaling. Your forehead should touch the ground while you are in the pose. Get back to the initial position by gently uncurling your spine while you inhale. Repeat the process a few times.

This is an alternate nostril breathing technique where you first need to sit down with your legs folded inwards. Your back and neck should be straight and your chin upright. Use your thumb and ring finger to block one nostril when you are inhaling or exhaling from the other. Inhale from the right while blocking the other and exhale deeply from the left while blocking the right one. Then inhale from the left while blocking the other and exhale from the right while blocking the left one. Repeat the process 15 to 20 times.

This pranayama is also similar to the Anulom Vilom, where the only difference is that inhalation is to be done from the right nostril and exhalation from the left. Use your thumb and ring finger to facilitate the process and repeat it 15 to 20 times. This helps to boost your energy levels. In case of hyperacidity, practice the opposite by inhaling from the left and exhaling from the right.

For this, take your hands to your head and place your thumb inside your ears, index finger on your eyelids, middle finger on your nose, ring finger on your upper lip and little finger on your chin. Inhale deeply and then exhale while making a humming sound. This will create vibrations in your head.