Keeping Allergies at Bay

Keeping Allergies at Bay

Breath Awareness

Budding dogwoods and weeping cherry trees burst open in April.  Hagerstown becomes a pastel canvas of pinks, whites and lavenders.  Along with these beautiful colors come pollen and spring allergies.  Utilizing yoga’s breathing techniques can ease sneezing and watery eyes this year.

Our breath, whether it is slow or fast, shapes the pattern of energy flowing within our body.  If energy is stuck or lacking in an area of our body, disease results.  For example, a last minute work request gets our blood pumping and breath racing.  We barely notice the breath, but feel the results in tight, slouchy shoulders, a collapsed chest, sore backs and hips, achy knees and ankles.  Without noticing the breath, we weaken our immune system, and open ourselves to colds and runny noses.  Sound familiar?

“Controlling the breath is a prerequisite to controlling the mind and the body,” states Swami Rama.  In gaining control of our breath, we take control of our health.

Step 1:  Become aware of your breath.  Breathing is a both a voluntary and involuntary physiological process (meaning you can control your breath or allow it to work by itself.) Are you holding your breath on the drive home?  Is it moving quickly as you usher your kids out the door to school? You can let your breath run wild or harness its power to create more energy within the body.  Building awareness takes time.  Every time you notice your breath, give yourself a high five.

Step 2: Practice diaphragmatic breathing.  Inhale, draw the breath into the nostrils and press the belly out.  Exhale, drawing the belly in pushing the breath out through the nose.  This is the most efficient type of breathing.  Chest breathing (breathing into the middle and upper chest) is the most common, but you actually have to work harder to achieve the same blood/gas mixture exchange than diaphragmatic thus resulting in more breaths.  Diaphragmatic breathing also presses the lungs against the abdominals gently massaging and improving circulation and digestion.  Anxiety is associated with chest breathing.

When we neglect to notice our bodies, minds or breath in stressful moments, our breath which runs all by itself will kick into a “fight or flight” response and the energy in the body will follow course.

Step 3: Keep the nasal passage clean.  Nasal mucus is normal and beneficial.  It lubricates the passages, warms the breath and keeps viruses away.  However, if we breathe through our mouth, we invite cooler air that the body has to warm up into the body and potentially allow harmful germs to enter.  A few ways to keep the nasal passage clean are nasal rinsing (neti pot), nasal oiling (if you already have more mucus, dry air will cake and crust the mucus in the nose causing discomfort and irritation), pranayama (breathing exercises) and keeping an eye on your diet refraining from too much dairy, refined and processed foods.

Pranayama (breathing) Practice:

Anuloma Viloma (forceful alternate nostril breathing). Practicing breathing just 5 minutes a day will change your entire outlook on your day.  You’ll immediately be more in tune with your body, feel more relaxed and focused, and overall improve your health.

Enjoy spring and all of its wonders by preparing the nose now.  Breathe freely!