Breathing Yoga Techniques to Start After COVID-19

The year 2019 has shown the human race that we stand nowhere when it comes to an inevitable situation like this. Since we all are aware of the ongoing COVID-19 situation and how it has taken a toll on our lives—and unfortunately, the lives our loved ones have lost.

Therefore, it has become really important for all of us to take every mandatory precaution and, most importantly, to brace our own body’s wellness by any means, be it physical exercises, nutritious diet, meditation, or medical care.

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How Does It Affect Our Lungs?

COVID-19 mostly affects our lungs and interferes with breathing, which basically causes our oxygen saturation levels to drop low.

It weakens our lungs and the muscles that help in breathing. As we know, in human lungs, oxygen within the air sacs (alveoli) travels through small blood vessels (capillaries). The capillaries then deliver the oxygen to the red blood cells.

Coronavirus damages both the wall and lining cells of the alveoli, as well as the capillaries. The debris then accumulates or “covers” the air sacs like a hard-boiled eggshell. The damage to the capillaries also causes a leak of plasma proteins, which further thickens the walls.

Therefore, it becomes harder for the lungs to get more oxygen and, as a result, you feel shortness of breath.

Not only can it cause shortness of breath or other complications, but in severe cases, it can even cost lives.

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What Can We Start With?

As soon as we begin training and strengthening our breathing muscles, it becomes easier to recover to near full potential.

Breathing exercises incorporated with yoga postures not only help increase lung capacity but also boost immunity. A road to quick recovery from COVID-19 has a few milestones such as consistency and positivity.

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Sukhasana with Deep Breathing

Breathwork: Take a deep breath in through the nose for a count of 3 seconds. While breathing in, feel the chest and belly rising up. Hold for 2–3 seconds, then exhale through the mouth, sighing out for 3 seconds.

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Parvatasana with Active Breathing

Breathwork: Keep your hands forward on the ground, and exhale where you are. Now, raise your hands up to the sky—big inhale. Fill air in your chest and stomach and stretch the hands toward the sky. Now exhale through the nose as you bring the hands down in front.

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Balasana with Restorative Breathing

Breathwork: In this pose, try to move your belly with your breath.
Take a deep breath in through the nose and exhale through the mouth. When we are stressed, our exhales tend to grow shorter than our inhales. So in this pose, try to match the inhale with the exhale.

Take a deep breath in and inflate your belly outward. Feel your thighs pressing into your belly. Exhale through the mouth, moving the belly in toward the spine.

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Adhvasana with Supported Pillow Breathing

Breathwork: Take full deep inhales and exhales—in through the nose, out through the mouth.
While inhaling, try to fill air into the belly, pressing the belly onto the pillow or blanket, and then exhale from the mouth.

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Supported Chair Sitting with Coherent Breathing

Position: Sit on a chair and keep the feet hip-width distance apart.
Sprawl your body forward by placing your chest and belly on your thighs. Let your hands hang down toward the ground as you fold forward.

Breathwork: Exhale for 5 seconds in the fold. Now inhale through the nose for 5 seconds and hold for 2 seconds while keeping the head and neck loose.
Finally, exhale for 5 seconds through the mouth.