The Problem with the 3 Best Yoga Poses for Boosting Immunity
I’m sure you’ve seen some of the ubiquitous YouTube or Instagram yoga videos where a beautiful woman or an Indian Swami tells you exactly how their perfect yoga poses are going to solve all your problems.
Recently, my father told me he clicked on a link to a 30 minute video explaining that one magical yoga pose would make all his low back pain disappear – instantly and forever. In addition to low back pain, my dad has had a few knee operations and lives with a persistent case of post-glory days football arthritis. He explained the video to me. Apparently, they spent 30 minutes describing how this one pose was the key he’d been looking for his whole life, before they finally revealed the magical secret.
Then he described the pose to me.
It was pigeon.
Yeah, I didn’t see that coming either.
He asked my opinion.
I took a long breath. How do you briefly explain that yoga is not a prescription, you can’t take poses instead of pills, and really, you kinda have to spend a little time doing it regularly over time before you start to see real, lasting effects?
So, I told him that in addition to being contraindicated for knee pain, it could actually exacerbate his back pain and he’d be better off deleting that video forever and sticking with his PT exercises.
This morning, as I was thinking about writing this blog and how I’ve recently fielded many requests for yoga to help improve immunity I realized that yes, sure, I can suggest 3 poses for greater immunity, no problem.
Here they are:
Cobra – Purportedly has a beneficial effect on the thymus, and great for breathing and depression.
Warrior 1 – May be very good for respiration and builds feelings of strength and courage.
Legs Up the Wall – Beneficial for the parasympathetic nervous system
And now that we have that out of the way, can we talk about how yoga can really help build immunity?
If you are practicing yoga asanas regularly, as well as utilizing the yamas and niyamas as a decision making framework, and practicing pranayama and meditation, you are already doing a great job of boosting your immune system.
Yay!
Right now is a really good time to do MORE of all of it.
It’s times like this, when things feel out of control and the future is uncertain, that yoga practice can help us feel more grounded, calmer, much more in touch with our spirituality, and able to take things one day at a time with a greater sense of equanimity.
So, the secret to improving immunity is not 3 poses, it’s actually the cumulative or synergistic effect of the using the whole system of yoga, regularly and in earnest.
That’s the real immune boosting secret.
So if you want to build a stronger immune system do more practice, meditate on and implement the yamas and niyamas in your life, eat well, sleep well, work on your relationships, and get a lot of support.
I have no idea if it will prevent you from getting sick.
But I do know one thing for sure – regular, holistic integrated practice of the yoga system will help you remember that when push comes to shove, there are only a few things that matter:
- we only have a short time on this planet regardless of when the messenger comes calling to escort each of us home,
- our relationships – with ourselves, our higher power, and with each other are basically the only things that truly matter, and
- every breath is a precious gift.
And I doubt pigeon pose can deliver that all that by itself.
Love this! I completely agree and appreciate your writing about it so eloquently! 🙂
Thank you Jessica! I’m so happy to see you doing some online offerings – go girl!!
Hear, hear! Have you ever googled beginners yoga or looked up the hastag on Instagram? I bet you’d find the same pose. I am always amazed at Beginner Yoga info-graphics and posts. The rest of your post reminds me to remind our folks what you said , I love it — “yoga pose aren’t pills” I am getting ready to do a series on the Niyamas.
So glad you are going to be teaching the Niyamas Kim – this is the wisdom that humanity really needs at this moment! Thank you for your work!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Yoga is so much more than just asana. Our western culture likes quick fixes and forgets that yoga is a holistic lifestyle, not an exercise regime. This gives me pause to consider my own teaching. Am I educating or perpetuating the misconception?
Kristine, I love where you are with your yoga practice. I feel like I found you on my path at the most perfect time…no coincidences I suppose. Thank you for all your guidance. And please do take good care as you continue to shine your light. Namaste
This blog is so timely as I remind myself of the benefits of your home practice these passed 10 days. Actually, for this passed year!
In a recent clinic visit I completed the PHQ-9, my score was “0”! A first ever for me. Kristine, your 3 recommendations for what matters in life is so prophetic! I have been studying the new online training- Calm the Storm and once again
I am enthralled in your lessons….especially the meditations .Planning to teach an intro to Yamas and Niyamas in May. With permission I will use the worksheets from Calm the Storm.🙏gratitude and peace💜
Congrats Jane – that’s wonderful to hear that you are doing so well! Yes, I made the worksheets to folks can share them – just let them know where they came from, that’s all I ask. So glad you are enjoying the meditations!!
xoxo
Beautiful message 🙏❤️
Thank you so much for sharing.
Kristine, I love where you are with your yoga practice. I feel like I found you on my path at the most perfect time…no coincidences I suppose. Thank you for all your guidance. And please do take good care as you continue to shine your light. Namaste
yes yes
Thank you Kristine. Your grounding common sense is good medicine.
Thank you for this! So true, so important.
As always you are so spot on, and I love this post!!!!! I’m not personally fond of pidgeon pose done like that on the mat – my back, hips and knees violently disagree! However, I love pidgeon done on the chair the best! Great blog for holistic approach to healthy body/mind/spirit! Thanks again!
Thank you for this deep wisdom and common sense!!!
Yeeeesssss! Thank you. I think as yoga teachers we are often asked to provide “the Holy Grail” of yoga poses, and it’s so hard to say to folks (but also completely necessary), “Well, it’s not quite that simple…” At the end of it all, none of us gets out of this life alive, and we will all do the best that we can (or not) and die anyway. Grateful for you.
I love this. I trained in Goa for my 200hr with Himalaya Yoga Valley Centre back in Nov and this is exactly what they taught us but it so true that in the West we want a quick fix. When we had our closing pooja ceremony I set an intention to honour the tradition and holistic aspect of yoga so I am glad that I found you for further education and support. I signed up for the Yoga and Neuroscience Connection and I am excited to get stuck in. Thank you for sharing this.
This is a great read. Thank you for sharing this … and all the subtle yoga you are posting on Facebook Live.
That made me chuckle, sigh in exasperation, applaud your reasoning – totally agree, it’s the daily practice which helps.
Thanks for once more putting the voice of reason out there.
I love this and I did see the same ad your Dad did and thought OMG! I have 3 of your trainings, including the teacher training, ready for me to dive into as soon as I finish this dissertation — can’t wait!
You communicate in words so beautifully what I feel in my heart.
Love this so much. Thanks
Appreciate your calm. And grounded posts. I am almost put off by the amount of advice giving on social media these days, yoga included. I’m being pretty selective of where I’m spending my time. I am glad to be part of this community. Thanks
Appreciate your calm and grounded posts. I’m being selective of where I spend my time on social media. Feeling almost put off by all the advice giving including some yoga sites. Glad to be part of this community
Word!!
Well said Kaoverii,. It is embracing all of the principles of yoga that makes it work. Yoga is a state of being, not a series of asanas. Keep on teaching the truth.
i am curious as to which indian swami you are referring to… i see alot of western people advertising quick fixes too – so would really appreciate that you avoid using a nationality..i am an indian yoga teacher and am very careful about not denigrating the way the west thinks they are teaching yoga when infact they are NOT teaching yoga as they add music and talk so much that there is absolutely nothing yogic about the western yoga – and it saddens me – you guys should STOP calling it yoga.
Om sri gurubhyo namaha. I am deeply sorry if my comment about the Indian swami offended you (although there is a particular YouTube sensation who is making millions and telling people to just do pranayama and not take medication – I think that is irresponsible and problematic). My comment was meant to be a commentary on how yoga can be misunderstood, misused, and marketed unethically – and not just by westerners. But I can certainly understand how it could be misunderstood. I think if you read the rest of the article, you will understand that I actually understand and agree with your perspective. And I understand how it can cause a great deal of sadness and feelings of being culturally appropriated. My apologies. I have a deep respect for the tradition, the lineages and the culture from which yoga has arisen.
spot on! I can’t wait for science to find the link between living ethically and moderately, and health.