8 Yoga Poses to Boost Your Immune System

Boost the immune system for better health and a better life!

Are you looking for a boost to your immune system? The first thing that usually comes to mind includes eating more vegetables or taking a multivitamin. These things will certainly contribute to a healthy immune system, but they’re not the only way to give it a boost. Believe it or not, yoga can help boost your immune system, too! It might sound too good to be true, but in this case, it’s true. Begin performing these eight yoga poses to boost your immune system today.

Related: How to Improve Your Immune System with Exercise

The Relation Between Yoga and Better Health

yoga for immune health

Although researchers don’t know exactly how, studies have found that exercise makes your body better at fighting diseases. A study published in 2008 in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity found that mice infected with the H1N1 influenza virus had a higher survival rate when engaging in moderate exercise. In the study, 88% of moderately exercising mice survived as opposed to the 50% of mice leading a sedentary lifestyle.

Similar effects have been seen in humans. A variety of studies have linked prolonged sedentary periods with different kinds of cancer, including colon cancer, ovarian cancer, and invasive breast cancer. It’s believed that when you exercise, you get a boost of antibodies and cancer-fighting white blood cells. These are the cells responsible for finding and removing malignant entities from your body. Moderate exercise can potentially reduce your risk of disease and help you live a longer life.

8 Yoga Poses to Boost Your Immune System

Yoga is a great way to fit exercise into your daily lifestyle. You don’t need a gym membership, fancy equipment, or a personal instructor. You can do it from anywhere, including your own home! It’s all about moving your body, stretching, and strengthening. In the end, you’ll forge a stronger connection with your body.

We love these immune-boosting yoga poses because they’re challenging, so they’ll raise your heart rate while strengthening your muscles. When you’re working from home, it’s great to break up long, sedentary periods with a quick yoga workout. Who knows; you might just see a big improvement in your health (and your waistline, too). What have you got to lose?

The Poses

What to Do: Do as many of these poses as you can, holding each for a minimum of 30 seconds. If you can’t do all of the poses right away, it’s okay. You’ll get there! Practice several times per week, slowly building flexibility and strength. Don’t forget to practice controlled breathing throughout each pose, either. In through your nose, out through your mouth.

1. Chair Pose
2. Eagle Pose
3. to 5. Warrior I, II, and III
6. Extended Side Angle
7. Plank Pose
8. Side Plank

Below, we’ve included instructional videos showing you how to do each of the yoga poses to boost your immune system. Using proper form helps prevent injuries and ensures that you’re getting the most out of your routine. Enjoy!

Instructional Videos

1. Chair Pose

2. Eagle Pose

3. to 5. Warrior I, II, and III

6. Extended Side Angle

7. Plank Pose

8. Side Plank

We can’t guarantee that performing these yoga poses to boost your immune system means you won’t get sick from time to time. However, practicing them regularly certainly won’t hurt! When you combine things like a nutrient-dense diet, multivitamins, drinking plenty of water, good hygiene, and regular exercise, you set yourself up to remain as healthy as possible.

If you’re looking for more ways to get fit and stay free of illness, be sure to check out these helpful articles before you go:

Originally published on September 1, 2017.

This post may include affiliate links.

Sofia Lopez

Sofia received her BA from Cornell University and her MFA from San Francisco State University. She creates workouts and fitness challenges. Her hobbies include running, hiking, and listening to audiobooks from the exercise bike.

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