Say "bye" to the cold in this winter

The winter season brings the chilly air along with few common and irritating diseases, like cold and cough. Yes, it really gets your nerves out and you tend to become stressed for almost nothing. This problem is very common in children. As soon as the winter season arrives, we find our children having a running nose, which again is very stressful, most of us who have children knows what I am talking about. A very simple way of keeping cough and cold away is, mustard oil. This is an age old technique, wherein, while bathing you put a little mustard oil in both of your nostrils and you are almost safe from getting these problems.

Along with that, as always, yoga is the best way of keeping the problems of cough and cold away. This blog is particularly to help you avoid these problems, with the help of pranayama and exercises, so that you can stay safe and happily enjoy this beautiful weather.

Kapalbhati Pranayama

This breathing technique has a cure for a lot of diseases which can be from curing cough and cold to curing shortness of breath (read how to cure shortness of breath here: http://experiencingseconds.blogspot.in/2015/12/yogic-way-of-dealing-with-breathlessness.html). In this breathing technique, you sit in a Sukhasana or Siddhasana , and forcefully relieve the air from the lungs with the help of abdominal muscles. It is done exactly like when you blow your nose. The process should be repeated for about 5 minutes initially, then increased. It is very good for curing sinuses as well. Remember that if you are pregnant or going through menopause, you are not supposed to practice this Pranayama.

Surya Bhedana Pranayama

Surya Bhedana Pranayama is yet another breathing technique where you first close your left nostril with the help of ring finger of your right hand, inhale from the right nostril, then close the right nostril as well and count 10, open the left nostril and exhale from it very slowly. This process should be repeated for about 10 times initially and then it can be increased. It is very good for treating cold, if you are suffering from it for a long time.

Bhramari Pranayama

Bhramari pranayama is very useful in opening sinuses and also drains the phlegm present in the forehead. It reduces dark circles too. Bhramari pranayama is done by humming like a bee with closed mouth. The thumb of both the hands should be used to close the ears, index finger should be kept on the forehead and the rest of the three fingers should be used to close the eyes. Check the image of Baba Ramdev performing Bhramari pranayama. It should be kept in mind that the three fingers do not touch the eyes.

Setubandhasana / Bridge pose

Setubandhasana helps in opening up the chest and activates the thymus glands that help in improving the immunity and protects from cough and cold. In this posture, you lie down on your back and fold your legs. Catch your heel with both the hands. Now, while exhaling and with the help of the arms, lift your body up and take deep breaths for 4-5 times, then come down. Repeat this pose for about 5 times.

Do these exercises daily for at least half an hour and you will find a lot of relief from your cold and cough.

Have a happy winter :)