Beating the Sniffles the Yogi Way

Its mid-October and hubster and I are ill. Inevitably, somethings’ gone round, and despite my best efforts – a scratchy throat and sneezing greet my day. Which gets me thinking… what is the best way to look after myself over winter? Especially this week as my immune system gears up to do battle. I flick through my Yoga for Herbs book on the section on colds which provides me with an interesting reason why we have them. In Ayurveda (ayurveda is a holistic medicinal system originating in India at about the same time as the invention of yoga), the predominant cause for most colds and flus is the build up of Ama in the body. Ama is essentially the accumulation of toxins and relates to cold, wet, heavy and impure energies in the body. To counteract the increase in Ama, we can increase our Agni energies which relates to hot, dry, light and pure. As I read through the book it mentions treatment is primarily of a diet which is light of nature with the addition of herbs.

Its interesting and I can easily get lost in the multiplicities of remedies that Ayurveda has to offer, however for myself I have 5 top tips to help get over our winter nemesis:

1)      Rest – while many of us try to plough on as normal, in actual fact, its much more conducive to spend an extra few hours in bed than get up for that 6am alarm for your yoga practice. Don’t push yourself, instead of going out for that run, wrap up warm and take a slow walk to take in the fresh air.

2)      Hydrate – lemon and ginger teas are my staple while I’m unwell. Lemon acts as a mild disinfectant for your throat while ginger stimulates the immune system, giving it a boost that it needs while it fights off any germs. Drink orange juice to give your system a boost of vitamin C. If you have a wider palate for herbal teas, liquorice and peppermint are useful expectorants like ginger, and help to rid excess phlegm.

3)      Eat well – though we can be tempted to comfort eat and reach for all the sugary and carb-filled food, if you can – try your best to fit in small meals or snacks that will power in the nutrients you need (if you can tolerate eating). For breakfasts if I’m unwell, I always add in some extra cinnamon and nutmeg to my porridge for a warming effect, and a good ole broth never went amiss.

4)      Hot baths or showers – steam will help to loosen any phlegm, aiding congestion and increase sweating through the pores restoring circulation and driving out the cold. Just make sure your home is toasty for when you dry off, and avoid going outside with wet hair.

5)      When practicing your Yoga:

• If you’re congested, using a neti pot beforehand helps to clear the sinuses and make your practice easier.

• Make sure your room is warm and aerated, crank on the heating in advance if you need to, have warm clothes and socks for savasana

• Take it slow – your body will be tired, slow and perhaps achy. Treat it with kindness and slow down your practice.

• Avoid inversions – if you’re head is congested and tipping your head below your heart is making you dizzy, just avoid these asanas all together. Stick to simple poses that keep the head up high.

• If you cant breathe very well – take the focus of your practice off breathing and concentrate on the movement instead, just do what you can and keep a box of tissues close.

So, there we have it, I will add that I’m not a qualified ayurvedic practitioner or doctor so please go see a professional when it gets too bad. I’ll add that in addition to all this I will absolutely head to the pharmacy when it calls for it for any medication. But these general tips help with that element of self-care and love for myself and my loved ones.

Here’s to hoping the sniffles stay at bay for you my lotuses!

Namaste an’all-that,

~ Wavy ~