by Lorelei Cohen

Created on: September 02, 2009

Asthma can have very serious health consequences for those who suffer from it. The inflammatory constriction within the air passages makes just the basic process of breathing extremely difficult, and in the case of a severe attack, breathing can be virtually impossible. Asthma can be life threatening. Many of the medications used to treat asthma, including steroids when used, can induce other health related issues. So how does a person best control his or her asthma as naturally as possible?

Yoga is one natural method to help relieve the symptoms of asthma. The breathing exercises within Yoga can be an effective therapy program for reducing the symptoms of asthma. Not only do the exercises expand, and strengthen the lung, but they also help to relax tense muscles which can provoke or prolong an asthma attack. The lung exercises are simple, and do not require a lot of time or energy, but when practiced on a regular basis they are proving to have amazing health benefits for asthma sufferers. The key is to design yourself a Yoga therapy schedule, in which you choose the type of lung exercise, and adapt the amount of exercise to match your changing health needs. Then perform these lung exercises on a regular or daily basis so that it becomes a part of your regular asthma maintenance therapy.

Yoga breathing exercises can be done in a sitting or standing position. I have found that the "complete breath standing" tends to give maximal depth to the lung when performed and is an excellent exercise for increasing lung capacity.

1. Stand on a flat surface with your arms by your sides and your feet together. Contract and then try to completely relax your abdomen muscles.

2. Begin a slow inhalation while you also slowly raise your arms, palms down, to stretch outward at your sides to form a t. Slowly raise your arms high over your head, palms facing inward, and palms coming together into the shape of an overhead prayer position, fingers extended. As you are inhaling to completely fill your lungs you are also slowly raising up on, and balancing on your toe tips. Your lungs should expand as they fill.

4. Attempt to hold extreme position for a count of five, and then slowly begin to exhale, and to simultaneously lower your arms and body to a completely relaxed position again. Lungs should be emptied as completely as possible.

5. Perform 5 times without pausing between deep breaths.

6. Relax

As your lungs become stronger, you will find that you are easily able to hold your breath for longer periods of time, and to easily perform additional repetitions.

A good book for visually viewing some of the many beneficial lung exercises within Yoga is Richard Hittleman's "Yoga 28 Day Exercise Plan". This book of Yoga exercise positions not only leads you through a picture view of the many poses, but also explains the health benefits derived from each exercise, so you can choose which exercises will benefit you.

The breathing exercises within Yoga can be an effective natural therapy program for reducing the symptoms of asthma but it is very important when trying alternative therapies that you do not stop your regular medications. Over time and as your body heals you may find that the incidence and severity of your asthma attacks may lesson, and that for this reason, you will then be able to reduce the amount of asthma medication that you take.

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