5 Yogic Mudras Asthma Patients Should Practice
Asthma is a chronic ailment that can make life difficult for you. It will limit your activities and prevent you from living your life to the full. Also, you will remain under the constant fear of asthma attacks that could worsen into a serious medical problem. Asthma treatment is available but regular medicines could provide little relief from the pain and suffering. Also, one becomes more dependent on medicines to treat his asthma. But there is a silver lining in the dark clouds. You can find relief in asthma mudra that you can practice at home.
Benefits of yogic mudra for asthmatic patients
First, you should understand what a yogic mudra is. It is an independent branch of the ancient Indian science called yoga asana. Here you make mudras or figures with your hands, head, posture, and other body parts. The focus is on pressing a certain point in the body to achieve desired results.
Simply put, yogic mudras could relieve pressure from internal organs and allow the free flow of oxygenated blood. Also, they help in maintaining a good posture and balance. For asthmatic patients, there are five Hasta (hand) Mudras that can help control asthma symptoms.
Here’re various Asthma Mudras
- Asthma Mudra
Asthmatic people are prone to an asthma attack that is a sudden worsening of the symptoms. It starts with tightening of the muscles around the airways and it results in severe wheezing, very rapid breathing, difficulty talking, and feeling of anxiety. Also, the lips and fingernails could turn blue. But a yogic mudra called Asthma Mudra can prevent this from happening to you.
How To:
Join your palms in namaskar position and fold the middle fingers in such a manner that nails of the fingers come close. Now press the fingernails of your middle fingers while keeping the other fingers and palms at a distance. The joining of fingernails will create a distance between palms and fingers and you need to maintain that distance while pressing the fingernails of your middle fingers. Practice it 7-10 minutes every day could give excellent results in treating asthma.
- Bronchial Mudra
Asthmatic people could get lasting relief from chest congestion and bronchitis with this yogic mudra. It would prevent the formation of mucus that could lead to congestion and trigger an attack. Since it can help control asthma attacks, it can be called a life-saving mudra.
How To:
Open your palms and flex your fingers and thumbs for this easy mudra. You need to bring your little finger at the base of the thumb and the ring finger to the upper joint of the thumb. Also, bring your middle finger on the pad of your thumb and let the index finger extended. Make this mudra with both your hands and practice this mudra minimum of 5 minutes every day.
- Prithvi Mudra
It is a yogic mudra to increase the earth element in the human body. Practicing this mudra will boost your immune system and improve your overall well-being in the long run. While it isn’t directly related to asthma treatment but it can aid in treating asthma. It promotes general health that includes asthma treatment as well.
How To:
Sit in Padmasana or Vajrasana for this mudra or you can sit comfortably on a chair. When comfortable, extend the ring finger towards the thumb and place the fingertip on the thumb pad while keeping other fingers straight and taut. Make this yogic mudra with both hands and practice it every day for 30-45 minutes. As the days would pass, you will start feeling a kind of positive energy in your body and mind.
- Linga Mudra
It is a great yogic asana for asthmatic patients as it can help clear the phlegm from the windpipe and keep the respiratory system intact. And it will be a real help for asthmatic people that face asthma attacks often. A healthy respiratory system will lower the risk and symptoms of an asthma attack.
How To:
Be comfortable whether in a standing position or on a chair for this yogic mudra. Now clasp your hands with your fingers firmly intertwined. Bring your hands close to your chest and raise your right thumb towards your chin. Also, encircle the raised thumb with your left thumb and the index finger. Breath normally and maintain the mudra for 15 minutes. Practice it regularly to get lasting relief from asthma.
- Surya Mudra
This yogic mudra is quite beneficial in curing severe cold and nasal blockage. It will help asthmatic patients in keeping their airways clear and prevent worsening asthma symptoms. It would prove to be a great help in asthma treatment in the long run.
How To:
Be comfortable in a standing or sitting position like sitting on a chair. Open your palms and stretch your fingers. Bring the hands closer to the chest and touch the base of the thumbs with your index fingers. Also, place the thumbs over the fingers. Keep the other fingers stretched outwards. Practice this mudra for 15 minutes and do it thrice a day.
These yogic mudras require some practice that you can do at home. During practice, the focus should be on attaining and maintaining the correct mudra. These yogic mudras can do magic for your overall health. And if you are an asthmatic patient, you will get lasting relief from these mudras. You can start slowly by practicing the mudras for a couple of minutes and increase the time as you develop confidence.
Precaution to be taken with yogic Asthma mudra:
• Practice a yogic mudra only when you are comfortable
• Focus on the correct mudra instead of increasing the time
• Discontinue the mudra you are uncomfortable with or you have difficulty in making
Conclusion
Yogic mudras can give excellent results but only when you practice them regularly for at least a couple of months. They could be slower but they give certain results. Also, you can practice these mudras with your regular asthma treatment. There is no harm in taking medicines while practicing the yogic mudras.
Disclaimer: Yogic mudras require proper training without which could cause unnecessary pressure on the nerves.