Jan 28
Yoga for Asthma - Advise Your Teacher
In the News today, ‘….Dr. Firshein advises everyone with asthma to engage in regular moderate exercise. “It strengthens the lungs, which helps prevent asthma symptoms,”…’ He continues on to recommend Yoga.
It comes as no surprise to me that Yoga can be beneficial to those who are challenged by Asthma. It seems like common sense but common sense is not always enough to convince people to try alternative approaches in medicine. Rightly so! I am not quick to offer student’s advice or suggestions about health concerns except to share my own first hand experiences when I think those experiences might be useful to the particular student.
I am not shy to pass on information about medical and scientific studies, or first hand accounts of healing practices and not all of those come from the world of Yoga. For example, I will tell students who disclose their asthma condition that Nadi Shodhana has been helpful to many patients.
I am not a Medical Doctor, why would I suggest that?
I have a friend whose son suffers terribly with asthma. One day she showed me a handout offered to her by the Pediatrician. It showed a breathing exercise, called alternate breathing, recommended for her son. It was clearly and exactly the practice of Nadi Shodhana, AKA Alternate Nostril breathing - a breathing exercise dating back thousands of years, that is in the foundation of most Yoga traditions! I was thrilled and didn’t care what the doctors call it.
On the other hand, I strongly bellieve it is crucial to inform people of contraindications in Yoga practices. It is a little alarming that in the following article which recommends, exercise for Asthma patients, particularly Yoga, there is lack of advice to inform your instructor of your condition. There are in fact, several Yogic Breath exercises that are contraindicated for people with Asthma. Kapalabhati, AKA Skull Shining Breath, which requires a student to forcefully expel the breath through the nose in rapid succession by contracting the abdominal wall, for example is not a safe or beneficial practice for people with Asthma.
My point?
Take a Yoga class! Enjoy it! Allow it to be a healing experience. BUT please inform your teacher of any physical conditions, challenges, injuries or illnesses BEFORE you roll out the mat because we teachers want Yoga to be healing and nurturing for all.
Read it here.