6 Surprising Ways How Yoga Helps to Boost the Immune System
Winter is around the corner and many people are currently looking for ways to naturally boost the immune system. Learn how yoga helps to boost the immune system and how you can start a regular yoga practice helping to keep your body strong and resilient throughout the year.
Table of Contents
Key takeouts
- With winter around the corner, many people are looking into ways how to naturally boost the immune system.
- Stress is considered one of the biggest enemies of a healthy immune system and yoga offers a natural solution to this.
- Practising yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the ‘rest and digest’ mode. This helps to slow down the heart rate, lowers the blood pressure, reduces cortisol production and helps to create an environment in which the body can relax and recharge at the same time.
- In this blog post, we will explore 6 ways how yoga helps to boost the immune system and I will also give you effective tips and free resources on how to start a regular yoga practice. I am ready when you are my friends 🖤.
Our body is a pretty insane invention, don’t you think so?
How the body is designed, how all body parts are linked and work together, and how much the body can endure, especially under pressure…is pretty insane if you ask me.
But, we also know that it is a two-way street. Mother nature gifts you this body, your vessel, and your job is to take care of it along your journey.
For many of us, this is a learning curve, it certainly was for me. I used to push my body to its limits for so many years, through extreme physical workouts, super unhealthy diets, lack of sleep, living a super busy lifestyle, working a highly demanding job, etc.
The body is pretty strong and resilient, especially in extreme situations, but as we said earlier, it is your job to look after it.
I have to admit though that yoga completely changed the way I see my body.
Yoga creates a deep mind-body connection, helping you become more aware of your body and its incredible abilities.
Through regular yoga practice, I learnt to listen to my body’s needs, cultivating more respect, gratitude, and self-love for my body and what my body does for me daily.
This newfound appreciation can help to transform how you see and care for yourself, empowering you to embrace your body’s strength and uniqueness. You start to work with your body rather than against it.
A key part of a healthy body is a strong immune system. Our immune system is like a personal defence force, constantly working to protect us from illnesses.
Yoga brings many health benefits that positively contribute to your physical and mental well-being. Today, will explore 6 ways how yoga helps to boost the immune system naturally helping you to keep your body strong and resilient throughout the year.
Related resources: 20 Benefits Of Yoga You Wish You Knew Sooner – From Strength To Serenity.
How stress weakens your immune system
Stress is one of the biggest enemies of a healthy immune system.
When we are stressed, our bodies release cortisol, a hormone that weakens our ability to fight illness.
Over time, chronic stress can lead to a weakened immune system, making us more prone to colds, infections, and even more serious health problems.
Yoga’s natural solution: Yoga helps to calm the nervous system and by calming the nervous system, yoga helps to reduce stress and supports your body’s natural defence mechanism.
Studies have shown that people who practice yoga regularly experience a decrease in cortisol levels, along with improved immune responses.
6 Ways how yoga helps to boost the immune system
All right my friends, below are 6 ways how yoga helps to boost the immune system.
Let’s dive in and explore how practising yoga can be your new wellness secret helping to strengthen your body and immune system at the same time.
1. Yoga helps to ease stress
We just touched upon this topic, but if you have taken a yoga class before, you know exactly what I am talking about.
Yes, that super relaxed post-yoga class feeling is pure magic. Yoga helps to reduce stress by balancing the nervous system.
When we practice yoga, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the ‘rest and digest’ mode.
This helps to slow down the heart rate, lowers the blood pressure, reduces cortisol production and helps to create an environment in which the body can relax and recharge.
Through the combination of conscious breathing and mindful movement, yoga allows us to step away from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives and find balance within.
The result? Lower stress levels and a stronger immune system.
2. Yoga can help to improve the circulation
Good circulation is essential for a healthy immune system, and yoga is an incredible tool to get the blood and lymphatic fluids flowing.
As we move through different yoga poses, we stimulate blood flow and oxygen-rich blood reaches your muscles and organs more effectively, which can help to boost the immune response.
Inversions, like for example twists, headstands, shoulder stands or legs up-the-wall, are all particularly beneficial for circulation.
3. The power of conscious breathing and immunity
Another super powerful tool how yoga helps to boost the immune system is conscious breathing, or pranayama.
Yoga starts with breath and yoga teaches you how to use your breath consciously.
Deep, intentional breathing brings more oxygen into the body which can help to improve the function of your cells, energize your organs and strengthen your immune response.
Below are two supporting breathing techniques for you as a reference:
- Nadi Shodhana (also known as alternate nostril breathing) – helps to reduce stress and balance the body’s energy
- Kapalabhati – is a powerful breathing technique to help boost circulation and clear the sinuses, making it an excellent practice for supporting immune health
4. Yoga can transform your sleep quality
A good night’s sleep is essential for a healthy immune system, and yoga can certainly help you get there.
Again, it comes back to relaxing body and mind.
Yoga, especially gentle evening practices ideally combined with meditation promotes deep relaxation, which can improve your sleep quality by calming the nervous system and preparing the body for rest.
Related resources: Simple 5-Step Evening Routine For Better Sleep.
5. Physically strengthen your body with yoga
Building a strong and flexible body through a regular yoga practice not only makes you feel good in your body, but it can also enhance your immune system.
A strong and healthy body is much better equipped to fight off infections and if you are one of these people who still think that yoga is a nice gentle stretching exercise, I highly recommend taking a Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga or Hot Yoga class.
Yoga is a full-body workout and yoga styles like Vinyasa Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga challenge your muscles, improve your endurance, and can help to increase circulation, all of which are key for a strong and healthy immune system.
6. Foster a more positive mindset
Yoga helps to balance mind and body and when our mental state is balanced it is also more positive.
A positive mindset helps boost your immune system by reducing stress and promoting healthier body functions.
Positive thinking also encourages healthy behaviours and healthy habits, such as better sleep, proper nutrition, and regular exercise, all of which support immune health.
Additionally, a positive mindset can enhance the body’s ability to fight off infections by promoting relaxation and reducing inflammation, creating an overall environment that is more resilient to illness.
Studies have shown that people who engage in mindfulness practices, like yoga and meditation, experience fewer illnesses and quicker recoveries.
These are 6 powerful ways how yoga helps to boost the immune system naturally and if you are now interested in starting yoga or making your current yoga practice more regular, keep reading my friend 🖤, because this is exactly what we will be talking about next.
How to start a regular yoga practice
If the 6 ways how yoga helps to boost the immune system got you on board, let’s get practical and let’s talk about how you can start a regular yoga practice.
I am a certified Vinyasa Yoga Teacher and I would love to help you start a regular yoga practice.
On my blog, you can find many free resources helping you to start a regular yoga practice, including free online yoga flows specifically tailored for yoga beginners.
If you are a beginner and completely new to yoga, I recommend you check out the related resources below:
- 10 Best Yoga Tips For Beginners – Kickstart Your Yoga Journey Today
- Start a Home Yoga Practice Today – 7 Proven Hacks From A Yoga Teacher
If you already have a yoga practice and would like to turn this into a regular yoga practice, I recommend you check out the following resources:
- 5 Benefits of Yoga in the Morning – Special: 3-Day Morning Yoga Challenge
- The 5 Best Yoga Props for Your Home Yoga Practice – Recommendations From A Yoga Teacher
Below is one of my free online yoga flows specifically designed to help you slow down and relax. I am ready when you are 🖤.
If you enjoyed this free online yoga flow for beginners, you can find more free online yoga flows for yoga beginners as well as advanced yoga practitioners here.
In addition to the 6 ways how yoga helps to boost the immune system, there are of course other things you can do to naturally support your immune system throughout the year.
In addition to your regular yoga practice, make sure to:
- eat a balanced diet – incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats to provide essential nutrients that support immune function. Foods rich in vitamins C and D, zinc, and antioxidants are particularly beneficial
- stay hydrated – drinking plenty of water helps maintain bodily functions, including the immune system. In addition, staying hydrated supports nutrient absorption and helps flush out toxins
- spend time outdoors – exposure to natural sunlight helps your body produce vitamin D, which is essential for immune health. Aim to spend time outdoors regularly, especially in the morning, to soak up some sunlight and enjoy the benefits of fresh air and nature
Be consistent
Whatever it is that we do to improve our physical and mental health, consistency is key, always.
It does not always have to be a 60-minute power yoga flow, already 10 – 15 minutes a day can make a huge difference to your physical and mental health.
Consider adding a daily yoga practice to your daily routines such as your morning or evening routine.
In addition, consider adding other healthy habits to your daily routines such as a balanced diet, staying hydrated, nature walks etc.
From reducing stress, boosting circulation, promoting better sleep and emotional resilience yoga offers a wealth of benefits for your immune health.
In case you have any questions about this blog post on how yoga helps to boost the immune system naturally, please feel free to leave me a comment below, it is always great to hear from you guys.
Stay wild,
Nicolle
Featured image: Photo by Patrick McGregor on Unsplash
Hi, I am Nicolle, a Senior Marketing professional, certified Yoga Teacher and Wellness Blogger. I am the founder of Let Your Shadow Shine Yoga and this blog. I am here to support you along your self-discovery journey, offering empowering tools like yoga, holistic well-being tips and transformative personal growth strategies.
I do enjoy yoga 🙂 but I need to get better at doing it consistently ?
Let’s flow together maybe one day! Would love to see you on the mat 😉
Thank you great tips, I must give Yoga a try, I have never done it, but the benefits are huge, thank you for the reminder. Great post.
You are so welcome 😉
Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment, Tia.