Yoga asanas for sinus relief: 5 poses to clear the nasal passage

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You may have a sinus infection if your head hurts, your nose is runny or congested, you have a sore throat, a cough, and you feel pressure around your eyes, nose, cheeks, or forehead. It can be difficult to live with sinus or sinusitis for certain people who suffer from it all-year long, especially during the monsoon or winter season. It might potentially result in brain fever in serious cases. It’s best to raise your guard by knowing how to get rid of sinus infections.

Sinus can be treated with medication, there are several home remedies that can help to reduce symptoms and hasten healing. Additionally, an expert advises you to try yoga to treat your sinus infection.

Health Shots got in touch with Himalayan Siddha Akshar, Founder, Akshar Yoga Research and Development Centre, who listed down 5 yoga poses along with their importance in keeping sinus problems away.

Akshar says, “A common ailment that affects most people during the monsoon is sinus and its related issues. This is due to the damp air, cold weather, and chill breeze. Monsoon, among all other seasons, can especially trigger your sinuses, causing the sinus cavities to become inflamed.”

Causes of chronic sinusitis

This happens commonly due to things such as allergic reactions, infections, any abnormal growth in the sinuses (nasal polyps), or swelling of the lining of your sinuses.

Some of the symptoms that one may experience include:

* Congestion leading to difficulty in breathing through the nose.
* Sinusitis also leads to nasal obstruction
* Pain and swelling around the eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead.
* It can also cause you to have a cough, headaches, fever and sore throat.

Here’s how yoga can help to treat sinus

There are certain yoga asanas that can ease breathing issues that are caused by sinusitis. These following poses enable the opening of the air passages of the nose. Practice these yoga techniques to get relief from sinusitis. Repeat this sequence for 3 sets, holding each pose for 30 seconds each.

Here are 5 yoga poses to relieve sinus pressure:

1. Vajrasana

• Kneel down gently on your mat
• Keep your heels close to each other
• Place your toes next to each other
• Keep your palms on your knees facing upward
• Straighten your back and look forward
• Hold this asana for a while

 

2. Halasana

• Lie on your back, resting your palms beside your body
• To lift your legs up, press your palms into the floor and drop your legs behind your head
• Support the back using your palms
• Hold the asana for a while

3. Sarvangasana

• Begin by lying down on your back.
• Place your arms beside your body.
• Gently lift your legs off the floor and position them perpendicular to the floor with your feet facing the sky.
• Slowly lift your pelvis and back off the floor.
• Bring your forearms off the floor and place your palms on your back for support.
• Try to achieve a straight line between your shoulders, torso, pelvis, legs and feet.
• Try to touch your chin with your chest and focus your gaze towards your feet

 

4. Padahastasana

• Begin by standing in Samasthiti
• Exhale and gently bend your upper body down from the hips and touch your nose to your knees
• Place palms on either side of feet
• As a beginner, you can bend your knees slightly
• With practice, slowly straighten your knees and try to touch your chest to your thighs

5. Shavasana

• Lie down in a prone position on a comfortable surface or on your yoga mat. We recommend lying down on a hard surface. Try to perform this posture in a quiet environment ensuring that there will be no disturbance.
• Close your eyes. Let your legs relax completely and place them at a distance that is comfortably apart.
• Let your ankles drop, and keep your toes facing sideward.
• Place your arms alongside your body and slightly apart. Make sure your palms are lying open to the sky and facing upwards.
• Starting from your toes, bring your attention to every area of your body. Use deep breaths to lull your body into a deep state of relaxation.
• Maintain awareness so you do not fall asleep in the process.
• Keep your breathing slow and deep. Imagine that as you breathe in, your breath is energizing your body, and as you breathe out, your body is slowly surrendering to relaxation.

 

While painkillers and antibiotics can also be taken as prescribed by your doctor if the problem is severe, you can also start practicing yoga and get relief from sinusitis. These yoga poses should be done slowly with awareness of breath and alignment. Yoga helps to boost the WBC count (white blood cell) production, increases blood circulation, and releases endorphins.