Yoga for Asthma

In this article, we will talk about yoga therapy or yoga for asthma. Asthma is a common lung disorder in which inflammation due to bronchial hypersensitivity causes them to swell and reversibly narrow/obstruct the airways along with recurrent spasms.

Yoga can help increase breath and body awareness, slow your respiratory rate, and promote calm and relieve stress — all of which are beneficial for people who have asthma, says Guruji Neeraj Medharthi Ji.

General Causes of Asthma

Some of the causes of asthma include pollen, mites, food-related allergies, and environmental irritants like dust and smoke. In some cases, stress can act as a trigger for asthma too. But not everybody gets asthma due to the same reasons and the triggers may very well vary from a person to person.

Pathophysiology of Asthma

1. Here the inner lining of the bronchioles become hypersensitive to any foreign particles – they become inflamed and this leads to excess secretion of mucus
2. The inflammation of the inner lining of the bronchi and bronchioles, causes the muscular layer to thicken and undergo recurrent spasms
3. Both the above events lead to narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi – narrowing of air passage – this leads to breathing difficulty
4. This whole situation occurs as an episode when the person is exposed to particular allergens that the person is allergic to. This is known as an Asthma attack. It does not sustain through the day.
5. Many times the attack relieves itself. Patients feel it is reversible by itself or by medications.
6. Those who have frequent episodes are given steroids to suppress the immunity of the bronchi.

What is Yoga?

According to Bhagwad Gita Equanimity, Stability, Balance, Harmony, Equipoise is yoga i.e. Samatvam Yoga Ucchyate.

According to Sage Vashistha, yoga is the skill to calm down the mind i.e. Manah Prasanna up ayah yoga.

And according to Great Sage Maharishi Patanjali yoga is the cessation of mental modifications i.e. Yoga is to gain mastery over modifications of Mind.

According to Guruji Shubham Barwala Ji, yoga is the recognition of Mental Modifications the moment they arise in our consciousness.

According to Guruji Neeraj Medharthi, Ji Yoga is the state of perfect balance.

What is Yoga Therapy?

According to Guruji Shubham Barwala Ji, Yoga therapy is the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well-being through the application of the teachings and practices of Hatha Yoga and Yoga.”

According to Guruji Neeraj Medharthi Ji, Yoga therapy is the application of yoga practices to alleviate physical and mental health conditions with the view of promoting self-care and encouraging overall well-being.

These days yoga therapy has become so popular, that many doctors are now supporting it. Various medical journals reveal research as to yoga’s multi-tiered benefits.

Likewise, those in the field of mental health often recommend yoga to clients or may even integrate aspects into their work. At The Minded Institute, we train many mental health professionals to bring yoga therapy into clinical practice.

Yoga therapy the evidence and support of yoga therapy are so great that several research papers have been published in the field of yoga therapy.

Several prominent research papers have been published on the topic of yoga for asthma by the Yoga Guru of India’s Honble PM Mr. Narendra Modi citing the effects of Yoga Therapy for Asthma.

A research paper discussing the effect of chair breathing for asthma patients is given below:-

Yoga – Chair Breathing for Acute Episodes of Bronchial Asthma

Another prominent research paper on Yoga for asthma is given below:-

Clinical effects of yoga on asthmatic patients: a preliminary clinical trial

Yogic Management of Yoga for Asthma

Yogic Diet – Yoga for Asthma

• Avoid milk products, fried, spicy food
• Avoid late dinner, heavy meals
• Avoid Cold items – fruits/juices

Asanas – 10 Yoga Poses for Asthma

• Ustrasana (Camel Pose)
• Sukhasana (Easy Sitting Pose)
• Ardha Matsyendrasana (Sitting Half Spinal Twist)
• Pavanamuktasana (Wind Relieving Pose)
• Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose)
• Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
• Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose)
• Badhakonasana (Butterfly Pose)
• Poorvottanasana (Upward Plank Pose)
• Shavasana (Corpse Pose)

Kriyas – Yoga for Asthma

• Jala neti/sutra neti
• Vamana dhauti
• LSP
• Kapalabhati 20-30 strokes per min

Pranayama – Yoga for Asthma

• AVOID cooling pranayama, bhastrika
• Right nostril breathing – suryabhedana
• Nadishuddhi
• Bhramari
• Sectional breathing
• Ujjayi

Manomaya Kosha – Yoga for Asthma

• Bhajan
• Chanting
• Emotional counseling
• Prayer
• Mind Sound Resonance Technique (M.S.R.T.)

Vijnanamaya Kosha – Yoga for Asthma

• Counseling about the disease, triggering factors, diet

Anandamaya Kosha – Yoga for Asthma

• Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Spend time with family and loved ones.

Read more about Yoga for Asthama.