I’m on the backside of my cold and while I’m almost 100% back to normal, I still have a runny nose and a little congestion. Yoga to the rescue! Yup, certain poses help alleviate certain symptoms (headaches, insomnia, anxiety, etc.). As a Yogaworks teacher training alum, I feel compelled to share because if it helps me, maybe it will help you 🙂
While there are a ton of poses that relieve symptoms of sinusitis — Bridge Pose, Downward-Facing Dog, Supported Headstand, etc. — I chose to highlight Janu Sirsasana (Head to Knee Pose) in this week’s video. It’s a basic, seated forward fold that is calming and stretches the hamstrings and back. And if it helps with my congestion, that’s a good thing!
Note: If sitting on your mat is uncomfortable, feel free to prop yourself up and sit on a couple blankets which can take some of the pressure off your lower back. And, if your hands don’t reach your foot, you can use a strap or a towel.
I like to hold this pose for about 10 breaths on each side.
Some other things to think about:
- Root down through the sit bones and lift up and forward through the pelvis
- Elongate the torso and spread the collarbones while dropping the shoulders away from the ears
