This breathing technique can warm your body and keep seasonal flu at bay

During the winter season, many individuals often experience seasonal colds and flu, adversely affecting their well-being. Aditi Zawar, a yoga instructor known for sharing wellness videos, turned to Instagram to introduce a yoga asana aimed at preventing illness due to changing weather. In a video, she emphasized the impact of cold weather and recommended a specific breathing exercise, ‘suryabhedi pranayama,’ to help combat susceptibility to infections like colds and coughs during colder seasons.

Highlighting the significance of breath as medicine, Aditi demonstrated the suryabhedi pranayama technique, involving inhaling through the right nostril while blocking the left one with a finger, followed by exhaling through the left nostril. She suggested practicing this technique 8 to 10 times daily. According to her, suryabhedi pranayama activates the sun element in the body, keeping it warm and enhancing the ability to resist flus and infections such as cold, sinusitis, bronchitis, Covid, and other respiratory issues. Additionally, it purifies the blood and alleviates symptoms of indigestion.

Supporting this, yoga trainer Ira Trivedi explained that the pranayama, which exclusively focuses on the right nostril (surya nadi or Pingala), stimulates the Surya nadi, kickstarting metabolism. By aggravating the pitta dosha, it enhances the digestive fire, aiding proper digestion and addressing issues like gas and bloating. Trivedi cautioned that the practice is not suitable for individuals with high blood pressure and heart diseases.

Furthermore, Trivedi elaborated on the name of the breathing practice, suryabhedi pranayama, deriving from “surya” meaning the sun and “bhedana” signifying entering or piercing through something. She emphasized its positive impact on sinus conditions, as it cleans the frontal sinuses and improves oxygen flow in the body. Despite its benefits, Aditi cautioned against its use for individuals with high blood pressure and heart diseases.