October is the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the pink ribbons are out in full force. You must have blogged, walked and gathered in groups to raise fund to eradicate the disease. While researchers have still not come to a solid conclusion on the cause or the cure, they do agree that incorporating yoga in your daily routine can keep this disease at bay. The lymphatic system of our body is responsible for maintaining the health of our breasts. It purifies the blood that is supplied to the breasts and keeps infections at bay. Yoga helps by circulating blood to provide energy throughout the system. These yoga asanas will keep your breasts in great health.
Viparita Karini or Legs up The Wall
Lie on your back in front of a wall. Then lift your legs and press them against the wall. Keep your buttocks away from the wall and make sure your back is resting on the floor. Now, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Stay in this position for some time and then release. This yoga pose will balance your nervous system and reduce inflammation in the body, which plays a critical role in preventing breast cancer. Breast Cancer Symptoms: Strange Signs of the Disease That Aren't Lumps.
Setubandhasana or Bridge Pose
Lie on your back, bending your knees and keeping feet flat on the floor. Keep your arms by the sides of your body. Using the strength of your arms, lift your pelvis off the floor, towards the ceiling. Exhale as you do this. Keep your body lifted, such that your head and neck are still flat on the floor. Hold this position for five consistent breaths and slowly bring your body down. Perform this yoga pose to energise the tissues in your breast and your lymph. Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2019: Do Bras Cause Breast Cancer? Here’s the Truth.
Salamba Balasana or Supported Child's Pose
Kneel down and place a bolster lengthwise in front of you. Separate your knees and sit on your heels. Inhale enough air to lengthen your spine. Exhale and lay your torso over the bolster. Raise your hands forward. Keep breathing and hold the pose for some time. To release, inhale slowly and return to the starting position. This yoga pose can increase the lymph circulation to the pectoral region, prevent lymphatic damage and calm the parasympathetic nervous system.
Uttanasana or Standing Forward Bend
Stand straight, inhale and raise your hands upward. Now exhale and bend forward. Make sure you do not tighten your knees. Keeping your hands parallel to your feet, rest them on the ground. Keep stretching your legs unless you feel a stretch in your hamstrings. Maintain this position till you are comfortable. To release, contract your abdomen muscles, inhale and rise slowly. This yoga pose helps stretch the hips, thighs and back muscles while relaxing the chest muscles. Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2019: Here's The Theme, History and Significance of The Day.
Ujjayi Pranayama
Lie down on the floor, with your legs outstretched and arms by your side. Now, relax your entire body and breathe out through your mouth. While breathing out, make sure your lungs are emptied and you purse your lips into a pout. Once your lungs are emptied, inhale air through your nose. Make sure you fill in your lungs completely. Hold your breath and stretch out your legs. Hold this position for as long as you can hold your breath, then breathe out as you relax your body. Similar to how the heart muscle circulates blood, yoga increases lymphatic flow with this breathing technique.
Apart from your lymphatic system, yoga will attend to your endocrine system, fascial system as well as the psycho spiritual aspects of breast health that relate to: swelling, painful and tender breasts, chemo and radiation as well as recovery from breast surgery.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 05, 2019 09:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).