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Beat quarantine through yoga.The fitter you are, the better is your immunity. While what you eat plays an essential role, physical activity/ workout holds the utmost importance.

International Day of Yoga is observed on 21st June every year to spread awareness about the importance and effects of yoga on the health of the people. The word ‘yoga‘ is derived from Sanskrit which means to join or to unite. Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice which gives calmness, peace, confidence and courage to the people through which they can do several activities in a better way. At every level of existence it is a state of harmony. Yoga is practiced in various forms around the world.

Why 21st June is chosen for celebrating international day of yoga?

21^stJune is the day to pay homage to the sadgurus. This is also the day of the summer solstice. During the June solstice, the north pole is tilted towards the sun or we can say that when the sun begins to move from north to south. From yoga’s perspective, this time is the transition period, i.e. a better time for meditation.

At the time of Sankranti or Uttarayan (around 21st June), the Adiyogi (the first yogi) left towards south, and first he saw the 7 royal sages who further became his first disciples. They propagated the science of yoga in many parts of the world. It is amazing that 21st June marks this important event in the human history. This date in the northern hemisphere is also the longest day of the year and it has special significance in many parts of the world.

What are the objectives of international day of yoga?

1. Make people aware about the benefits of yoga and connect them with nature.

2. To reduce the rate of health-challenging diseases in the world.

3. Spreading growth, development and peace throughout the world.

4. Making people aware about physical and mental illnesses and providing solutions through yoga.

5. It also aims to develop a habit of meditation for peace of mind, self-awareness which is necessary to survive in a stress-free environment.

Theme of international day of yoga 2020 is “Yoga at home and yoga with family”.With Covid-19 cases increasing every single day, it’s time to get active and take self-responsibility. The fitter you are, the better is your immunity. While what you eat plays an essential role, physical activity/ workout holds the utmost importance.

Corona virus, when it affects a person, comes out in the form of cold, dry cough, and fever. If an infected person’s saliva touches a surface, then that surface becomes a host for the virus. Any person who touches the surface, for example, a doorknob, a napkin, or even the button of an elevator then there is a chance to contract this virus.

What does the immune system do?

The immune system is a vast and organized network of cells, tissues and organs that defend the body from germs, viruses and microorganisms. It plays a vital role in keeping our body healthy by preventing infection. Such a vast system needs an elaborate and a well connected mechanism of working, and that is exactly how the immune system in our body works.

It first detects and then responds to the presence of an enemy element in the body and works through a set of systematic steps to combat it. Sometimes, the immune system tends to malfunction due to various reasons like stress, inactive lifestyle and poor eating habits. And when it does, it is not a good sign. Our immune system is of utmost importance and plays a significant role in keeping us fit and healthy.

Yoga and pranayama for building immunity:

Yoga and Pranayama are the panacea that the world is gradually waking up to. Whether it is infection, psychosomatic diseases, or lifestyle disorders, yoga and pranayama work for everything. Even in the case of corona virus, people who have been practicing yoga, meditation and pranayama have experienced a higher level of immunity and lung strength, making it difficult for the virus toaffect their bodies. Let’s find out the different pranayamas and asanas that you can do in the comfort of your home to enhance your immunity levels.

Warm up routine:

1. Perform soft rhythmic jumps 50 times.

2. Swing the arms forward and backward powerfully 10 times.

3. Circle the shoulders front and backward 10 times.

4. Twist the waist with arms open & stretched 5 times each side.

5. Gently circle the knees, left and right side 5 times.

6. Circle the ankles clockwise and anti-clockwise with the front sole pressed to the ground and heel raised 5 times each.

Pranayama:

Prana is the life force in our body. Pranayama means the exercise of increasing the life force in our body. Increasing prana in our body can tackle many diseases and even prevent them. It can be increased by consuming fresh fruits, vegetarian food, taking proper rest, but mostly with pranayama. The following pranayamas should be done daily to improve your lung strength and immunity levels.

1. Ujjayi Breathing: Ujjayi breaths are the full yogic breaths which are a common aspect of many pranayamas. In this, the focus is on taking breaths through the base of the throat, thereby instructing the lungs to increase the intake of oxygen.

2. Kapalbhati Pranayama: Kapalbhati is a popular pranayama that helps with weight loss. It also increases the level of oxygen in your body, thereby increasing its immunity against diseases.

3. Nadi Shodhan Pranayama: Nadi Shodhan or alternate nostril breathing technique is a simple pranayama which calms the mind and leads it into meditation. Just do it for a few minutes and then let your mind meditate for 10-15 minutes. This is simple to do and recharges your body and mind in minutes.

Yogaasanas:

Yoga asanas are a good way to improve your body’s physical fitness. But they don’t just work in improving your flexibility or helping you lose those extra kilos. There are specific yoga asanas that can help boost your immunity as well. Here are the top 4 yoga asanas you can help boost your immunity as well.-Kati Chakrasana, Trikonasana, Dhanurasana and Setu bandhasana.

Sudarshan kriya yoga (SKY):

The best thing that can help you increase your immunity levels during this time of panic and stress is sudarshan kriya yoga. A comprehensive yogic technique, Sudarshan Kriya has elements of pranayama, yoga, and meditation incorporated in it and works on every level of our body. It heightens our immune system, specifically improving the defense mechanism which is the most important requirement at this time.

It is seen that even in the people who start practicing Sudarshan Kriya from scratch, their immunity levels reach to the maximum levels in just fifteen days. This simple 20-minute breathing exercise will not only help you prevent contracting the corona virus, but also impact your emotional, mental, and physical well-being in the most positive and meaningful way.

These practices will not only help us prevent the virus, but also improve our daily life in a highly positive manner.